Developing Democratic Vision of Youth: Where Are We Standing?

One of the major crises of democracy in developing countries is lack of democratic vision in youth. Education systems in developing countries need to re-address the teachings of democracy and democratic vision for the true democratic system.

Selection of a true political leadership for governance is based on the true democratic vision of youth. In most of the developing countries, teaching content on democracy is insufficient.

The teachers are not well trained in teaching democracy and democratic vision successfully. This deficiency in teaching is leading to promote violent and criminal attitude in youth.

Democracy in third World Countries

A lot of discussions are ongoing to promote the true democracy in the third world countries including causes and possibilities. Experts seek to criticize the political system, rule of law and human rights.

Political reforms are under discussion in third world countries with no more hope. Feudal systems and personalization have a greater influence on the political system particularly in developing countries.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations (2021), democratic decline in in sub-Saharan Africa is because more Africans live under fully or partially authoritarian states.

According to Hass & Kim (2022), the key challenge to democracies in Asia is persistent or rising inequality. Barriers and challenges in strengthening democracy vary from country to country.

We can compare the barriers and challenges in strengthening democracy in third world countries with almost same findings. In this situation, we will have to identify the root causes in promoting democratic vision in youth. 

Weak systems 

Gaps in education system in promoting democratic vision in youth is the major cause that is mostly ignored in the third world countries. No doubt, education and democracy are highly correlated.

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Teacher training programs, interest of students and activism in democracy and curriculum indicate the level of democracy in any country. Curriculum and teacher training programs without active content and elaborations about democracy mean no democratic vision of new generation.

Education provides the foundation for developing democratic vision in youth. Conceptual understanding of democracy is not enough for the practical contributions of youth in promoting the true democracy in any country.

Therefore, it’s important that the selected content for teaching democracy should be activity based. Ignoring the worth of the selected content on democracy means no hope for further positive contributions of youth for democracy.

Several research concluded that in third world countries, the selected content to teach democracy has no worth for active participation of youth in strengthening democracy.

Similarly, teacher training programs have insufficient and inactive material for training the teacher to teach successfully about democracy. Because of all this, contributions of youth for strengthening democracy are hopeless in the third world countries.

Lack of evaluation system for rethinking about the approaches of education system for strengthening democracy is alarming situation in many countries of the world.

Role of Higher Education 

A number of researchers concluded that university graduates have deficiencies in elaborating meaning, nature and characteristics of democracy. Higher education institutions need serious attentions for revising the policies and practices to strengthen the democratic vision of youth.

SDG 16 states that nations should “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”.

Therefore, justice and rule of law needs to be well elaborated in teachings for the protection of democratic principles.  This is responsibility of higher education institutions and one of the major goals of the universities to enhance the democratic principles.

In addition, higher education institutions should revisit their remarkable role in this matter particularly in developing countries. Involvement of university graduates in street crimes, gang rapes, drug addiction and in other severe crimes is the symbol of ineffective teachings at higher education institutions.

Political instability

Political instability leads to criminal attitude including terrorism and religious extremism. Political instability needs to address the platform of higher education institutions to ensure the active role of youth for democracy and human rights.

UN Commission on Human Rights declared the essential elements of democracy including Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, Freedom of association, Freedom of expression and opinion, Access to power and its exercise in accordance with the rule of law.

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The holding of periodic free and fair elections by universal suffrage and by secret ballot as the expression of the will of the people, A pluralistic system of political parties and organizations, The separation of powers, The independence of the judiciary, Transparency and accountability in public administration, Free, independent and pluralistic media.

What’s more, these elements need to be included in the curriculum of educational institutions for the conceptual understanding of youth and to ensure their active role in strengthening democracy.

 The Way Forward

According to United Nations report, more than forty percent of the global population is younger than 25.

Such programs need to be launched with a focus on youth and democracy in higher education institutions.

Universities should include courses on democratic vision in their all-academic programs. There should be regular debates in the classrooms on the active role of youth in strengthening democracy.

Also, practicum should be included in the lessons. Internship programs on democracy should be launched by the universities.

The existing gaps in the policies and practices for the active role of youth foe strengthening democracy should be well addressed. Leadership of educational institutions should rethink about the existing problems and challenges in enhancing the democratic vision of youth.

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