Strengthening Youth Participation in Public Decision-Making Processes in Europe: Young People’s Perspectives

Abstract

Young people’s institutional engagement and political participation are crucial among contemporary European democracies, thus rendering them a pivotal issue at the core of European policies. The current state of youth participation, marked by declining institutional involvement and rising unconventional forms of participation, underscores the importance of understanding the link between youth, education and political institutions.

The contribution aims to delve into the perspectives of young people on strengthening youth participation in public decision-making processes. The research adopts a qualitative approach, and it is underpinned by phenomenological philosophical assumptions. Data was collected through in-depth online interviews with 26 young members of representative European youth organisations. The pedagogical insights gleaned from the lived experiences of young people provide valuable suggestions for fostering inclusive and participatory educational policies.