YOUTH POLITICAL PARTICIPIPATION IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: BEING APOLITICAL IS IN

Abstract

This article presents the (non)participation of youth in the traditional political institutions in contemporary Bosnia and Herzegovina; aiming to
promote social and professional integration of young women and men as a key element to accomplish the objectives of Europe’s strategy for growth
and jobs, thus promoting personal fulfilment, social cohesion, and active citizenship as the role of youth. The issue of youth political participation is
on the cover sheet of newspapers worldwide but also in the countries that are moving toward effective and efficient democracy. Worldwide, we are seeing
youth who are emerging as builders of democracy whilst the adoption of the White Paper on Youth opened the European Union decision making process
enabling (young) people of Europe to be involved in the decisions which concern them (EC 2009a). Active citizenship of young people, as the political
participation and participation in local life, characterized by tolerance, non violence, the acknowledgement of the rule of law, and human rights are a
key components to the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is also a political priority at the European level. Better involvement of young people can take
various forms such as: increased participation in representative democracy (increasing percentage for standing for or voting in elections) or participatory
democracy (such as civil action, societal engagement or voluntary service).

Both representative and participatory democracy are highly linked to the use of information-communication technology, especially Internet (such as
e-mail, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc), motivating youth to “switch” from traditional political and social forms of participations models toward those
who are defined as “e-participation”, “e-governance” or most appropriate “digital activism”. Yet, there seems to be a tendency away from participatory
processes involving a long-term commitment towards ad hoc engagement of individuals. Some youth researches pointed out a tendency among young
persons to avoid participating in formal political institutions defined by their “vertical forms of organization” and privileging as an alternative more
horizontal and decentralized participation models. These often occur inside informal groups or collaborations during the time of developing a specific
cause and campaign and do not necessarily drive for the creation of a formal structure but might rather be linked to popular culture and commercial
entertainment instead. Summarizing, this article and the policy paper1 could unquestionably be of strong interest for conclusions as to measures for
ensuring higher participation of youth and will allow policy makers, youth and all other interested stakeholder throughout the B&H to make their first
and/or further steps accordingly.