Youth policy includes political movements led by young people and organizations targeting youth. Age definitions vary by region and policies may address issues such as age limits for activities and injustices against youth. Youth activism can lead to cultural and social change, and even revolution. Political parties often design organizations targeting young people, with goals ranging from information dispersal to active recruitment.
Youth policy can refer to political movements organized and led by young people, or it can refer to youth-targeted organizations devised by political parties. Furthermore, youth political movements may specifically address political issues of interest to young people. Examples of youth policy groups have included the American Youth Congress, the British Youth Council and the Egypt Youth Party.
The age at which individuals are considered young varies by region. In some areas, the term juvenile may only be used to refer to a preadolescent child. Other regions may consider anyone below a certain age limit to be a young person, such as adolescents or individuals under the age of 30. Thus, the specific goals and composition of youth policy movements are likely to reflect these differences.
Several issues have been seen as youth policy oriented, due to the age of the population they impact the most. Any law that distinguishes between a young person and an adult can be considered part of youth policy. For example, many regions set strict age limits for activities ranging from military service to driving a motor vehicle. Furthermore, political movements aimed at perceiving injustices against youth – such as child labor regulations or child abuse prosecution standards – are often a focal point of youth policies. Leaders of these movements may use certain tactics as a means for further political change, such as worker strikes.
Additionally, young people will often become advocates for the cultural and social issues of their time, which can lead to the formation of youth activism organizations. The American Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee of the 1960s is one example. Members of this college-focused group participated in political protests related to racial segregation practices.
Perhaps the most radical political change that youth political movements can facilitate is revolution. In many regions where economic or cultural conditions are controversial, political struggles are growing. Large-scale protests and paramilitary groups in these regions often consist mainly of young people. When political turmoil escalates, an entire government and political system can crumble under the pressure, and often the youth of a region lead this charge.
Even the youngest branch of a major political party can fall under the umbrella of youth politics. Political parties in various regions often design organizations specifically targeting young people, with goals ranging from simple information dispersal to active party recruitment. Motivated young people from a certain political party can also organize youth groups themselves. These organizations can work directly with the political party as a representative of their peers. Youth policy groups also create outreach activities such as voter registration that are designed to more actively engage young people in the political process.
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