Redefining Power: Youth as Stakeholders in 21st Century Governance

By Rabia Ecrin Özdaşan

Governance has traditionally been conceptualized through the prisms of age, experience, and institutional hierarchy. Classical political theory often reserves power for those who have accrued it over time by election, by rank, or by longevity of bureaucratic tenure.1 This kind of definition unwittingly assumes that what legitimizes power is longevity and not relevance. But such assumptions fall short more and more to define the new patterns of 21st-century governance.

Young people, in this case, are not just underrepresented but structurally excluded. While they are the most networked, educated, and politically engaged generation in human history, young people are "apprentices" of democracy, rather than full-fledged stakeholders.2 The prevailing governance model overlooks their experiences, online literacies, and sense of political urgency, especially in countries like Turkey where a significant youth population is not connected to formal decision-making structures.3

This essay argues that power must be redefined: not according to status or age, but according to acknowledging intergenerational legitimacy and civic capacity. Using Turkey as a case study, it demonstrates how current governance models not only fail to meaningfully include young people but also miss a transformative opportunity to foster resilience, innovation, and democratic renewal.

Governance systems worldwide have historically privileged age, experience, and institutional seniority as the primary determinants of political legitimacy and power allocation.1 This model inherently marginalizes younger generations by associating authority predominantly with tenure rather than contemporary relevance or civic capacity. Globally, despite youth constituting a significant portion of many populations—over 25% in countries like Turkey, India, and Brazil2—their representation in formal political institutions remains disproportionately low.3

Specifically, people between the ages of 15 and 29 make up about 24 percent of Turkey's population, although they are hardly represented in the Grand National Assembly.4 The median age of legislators often crosses fifty, indicating a persistent generational gap.5 Similar trends across countries indicate structural obstacles preventing effective involvement by young people in institutional decision-making.

This political exclusion of youth undermines democratic legitimacy by limiting pluralistic representation and neglecting new socio-political priorities specific to younger generations. In addition, the conflation of power with age limits institutional flexibility and suppresses the injection of fresh ideas essential to respond to multifaceted modern challenges. Therefore, a radical reassessment and restatement of governance models are needed to break free from age-based hierarchies and ensure intergenerational legitimacy.

Unlike earlier prevailing governance models, today's young people are among the world's most digitally cognizant and politically mobilized populations.1 Their increasingly active mobilization in international social movements for climate action, social justice, and digital rights underlines their capacity to shape political agendas and mobilize mass action.2 Youth proficiency with digital technologies places them in a unique position where they can spearhead efforts to address modern issues in governance.3 Neglecting this imperils the impervious sustenance of archaic governance models insensitive to such a changed socio-political landscape as that constituted by the younger cohorts.

The future resilience and innovation capacity of the governance systems will also depend heavily on genuine youth participation as active stakeholders.1 Globally, ranging from youth parliaments across the EU to Latin America's participatory budgeting, history demonstrates that youth empowerment results in democratic renewal and accountability in policy-making.2 Such systems harness youth's unique framing and digital know-how to contribute towards solving emerging issues such as climate change, economic inequality, and the digital revolution.3

In Turkey, although structural limitations are present, local authorities and civil society organizations have begun to develop innovative youth participation projects aimed at bridging the gap between generations.4 Young people's councils in major city centers, for instance, provide platforms for youth voices to influence municipal policies directly.5 The success of such projects demonstrates that the inclusion of youth perspectives is not only a democratic requirement but also a strategy of governance for success and sustainability.

Therefore, redefining power relations towards institutionalizing youth participation is vital to building governance systems that are robust, inclusive, and forward-looking.

We live in times of rapid change and complex challenges that demand fresh ideas and inclusive leadership. Traditional governance models that tie power to age and seniority no longer serve the realities of today’s interconnected world. Excluding young people from meaningful participation weakens democracy and stifles innovation—two things we urgently need.

This essay has shown, both through global examples and the Turkish experience, that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are essential partners today. Embracing their voices, talents, and digital savvy will help build governance systems that are resilient, adaptive, and truly reflective of all generations.

The future is already here—and it can’t wait. It’s time to rethink power, to invite youth from the margins to the center, and to shape governance for the challenges of the 21st century—together.

References :

David Held, Models of Democracy 123–126 (3d ed. 2006).

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, World Youth Report: Youth Social Entrepreneurship and the 2030 Agenda 15–18 (2020), https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/publication/world-youth-report-2020.html.

OECD, Engaging Young People in Open Government: A Communication Toolkit 5–9 (2018), https://www.oecd.org/gov/open-government/engaging-young-people-toolkit/.

Turkish Statistical Institute, Youth in Statistics, 2023, https://data.tuik.gov.tr.

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Legislative Statistics: Age Profile of MPs (2023), https://www.tbmm.gov.tr.

Zeynep Alemdar, The Generational Divide in Turkish Politics, 34 Middle East Critique 57, 62–64 (2023).

World Economic Forum, Global Shapers Annual Survey 2022, https://www.weforum.org.

UNICEF, Youth Participation in Decision-Making: A Path to Better Governance (2019), https://www.unicef.org.

European Youth Forum, Youth Participation in Democratic Life (2020), https://www.youthforum.org.

Yerel Gündem 21 Gençlik Meclisleri, Yerel Katılımda Gençlerin Rolü Raporu (2021), https://www.tbb.gov.tr.