Youth politics

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Youth politics is a category of issues which distinctly involve, affect or otherwise impact youth.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] USA

With roots in the early youth activism of the Newsboys and Mother Jones' child labor protests at the turn of the 20th century, youth politics were first identified in American politics with the formation of the American Youth Congress in the 1930s. In the 1950s and 60s organizations such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and Students for a Democratic Society were closely associated with youth politics, despite the broad social statements of documents including the liberal Port Huron Statement and the conservative Sharon Statement and leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. Other late-period figures associated with youth politics include Tom Hayden, Marian Wright Edelman and Bill Clinton.

“ Our answer is the world's hope; it is to rely on youth. The cruelties and obstacles of this swiftly changing planet will not yield to obsolete dogmas and outworn slogans. It cannot be moved by those who cling to a present which is already dying, who prefer the illusion of security to the excitement of danger. It demands the qualities of youth: not a time of life but a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the love of ease. - Robert F. Kennedy, South Africa, 6-6-1966 ”

[edit] Europe

Youth politics have an extensive history in Europe, as well. Free German Youth was founded in 1936 as a communist alternative to the Nazi Youth movement.

In the UK there is a particularly Youth Politics Movement consisting of the British Youth Council (BYC), UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) and Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP). Although having no direct power the young people in these organisations have a close working relationship with members of parliament and are fairly influential.

[edit] Globally

Other continents have experienced a variety of youth politics and political movements.

[edit] Present

Between the influence of mainstream media and politicians, youth politics in the United States has been illegitimated and deprioritized[citation needed]. Organizations such as National Youth Rights Association and The Freechild Project continue to advocate and educate for issues that affect young people specifically, while other organizations, including Youth Service America and Advocates for Youth work for issues that affect youth directly. The children's rights movement is widely credited with keeping youth politics on the national radar[citation needed], while other fledgling movements such as youth voice and youth participation have yet to gain the spotlight[citation needed].

[edit] List of current youth politics issues

There are several issues which are deemed "youth politics" by politicians, mainstream media and other sources.


[edit] List of current youth politics organizations

There are thousands of youth politics organizations and programs around the world.


[edit] See also

[edit] External links


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Youth Empowerment topics
Elements
Types
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