When democracy speaks, do young people hear themselves? A young feminist and civil society perspective from Cameroon

As a young Cameroonian woman engaged at the intersection of political communication, feminism, and civil society, it becomes increasingly evident that one may be inclined to question whether young people are truly losing interest in democracy or whether we are losing faith in how democratic institutions conduct themselves. This observation comes not from an observer who studies it but from my own engagement with debates surrounding citizenship, women’s involvement in politics, political communication, and the future of our societies. I have been part of meetings where young people are allowed to discuss their hopes and fears, and I have seen young women engage in spaces that were previously considered the domain of politics and men.

However, such experiences are significant, but not as significant as what comes after them, leaving young people unsure whether their voice made any difference beyond the discussion itself. The issue is that youth may not be seeking less democracy; they are simply seeking a democracy where their participation makes a difference. Democracy for my generation is not an abstract construct found solely in constitutions and in election processes and periods. It is seen and felt in access to education and jobs, in the services provided, in the justice system, in safety, in freedoms, and in the political representation that allows us to influence issues concerning us.

Over 70% of Cameroon’s population is made up of youth, but this fact does not necessarily translate into political influence. The fact that we often refer to youths as the future of our society could inadvertently delay their citizenship. 

It is time we realize that young people are not merely future citizens in waiting, but are citizens already. This calls for rethinking how the concept of participation is understood and filled with life. Youth are regularly being called on to participate in discussions, consultations, workshops, etc., but the most important part of the equation is whether these inputs are ever really considered by political decision-makers. The fact that their voices are allegedly being heard, yet barely ever considered, keeps participation procedural rather than substantive. Being present is different from influencing, as listening is different from hearing. Therefore, democratic institutions need to do more than create spaces for youth to express themselves. They need to devise ways in which the participation of youth influences the decision-making process.

Another dimension that my feminist perspective brings into this discussion is that, for me, feminism is all about having agency, having equality, and having the ability to shape the societies in which we live as women. There can be no such thing as a democracy which calls on women to take part in politics, but which does not give women an opportunity to have their say in the process of decision-making. We need to challenge the way of almost exclusively discussing women’s issues with young women. Indeed, young women need to play an active role in discussions about violence against women, reproductive rights and equality, but they also have to be heard in discussions about economics, peace and security, technology, climate change, the constitution and governance. How can we talk about empowering women when we keep shrinking their legitimate political agenda?

In my experience as a political communicator, it has become evident to me that democratic alienation is not merely the result of institutional malfunctioning. Such democratic alienation springs from the malcommunication provided by the institutions that fail to reach or even address respective communities. Institutions can announce policy programmes, governments can issue statements, and leaders can give speeches, but eventually citizens are left asking themselves one basic question: 

“What does this mean to me?”

Young people need to know the impact that policies have on them, how programmes can be accessed, how decisions are taken, and what avenues are available in case promises made are not kept. This is why communication should not be limited to public relations or institutions’ image management. Communication is supposed to be an aspect of democratic accountability.

I equally tread with caution when referring to youth as disengaged. In Cameroon, youths engage in political discourse via WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, as well as many other digital platforms. They contribute to discourses, question official narratives, mobilize, and seek explanations for their actions. While their participation might not fit the mold of political participation, this should not imply a disengagement from politics. Youths have not disengaged from politics, but in some instances political spaces seem to not respond to them any longer.

The focus here needs to shift from how we communicate to young people to how we communicate with young people instead. The first approach essentially treats young people as an audience; in the latter approach, they are considered citizens and political actors. Democracy has to transcend the electoral process. Elections do matter, but democracy needs to be there when young people are in desperate search of jobs, when women demand justice for GBV, when communities have to decide their destiny, and when civil society challenges power. Elections cannot be the end of the process of citizen-institution relations, but just the beginning of accountability.

This is the reason why re-engaging youth in democracy goes beyond asking them to trust the democratic process. Trust is created through experience. Institutions that listen, processes that are open, leadership that communicates the reasons behind their decisions, and evidence that participation leads to change. The question is especially pertinent for the Gaborone Democracy Lab since it does not pertain to Cameroon alone. Young people across Africa are challenging representation, accountability, access to opportunities, and the pertinence of political institutions to their lives.

As a young feminist and civil society activist, I do not want a democracy that only includes me in the room where decisions are being made. I want a democracy that enables me to influence the process. As a political communication expert, I know that influence must be followed by action. Therefore, the issue is not about how to convince the next generation to believe in democracy, but how the democratic structures have to change so that the next generation would have a reason to believe. Therefore, it is not about convincing young people to believe in democracy, but rather about creating a democracy that has earned their trust.