Award-winning writer | Author | Editor | Content consultant | Speaker | RSA fellow | Chair, Sibs charity | Ambassador, NDTi inclusion non-profit
An essential question and project here, and even more timely with the UK local elections and forthcoming general election: does democracy really matter? And what does voting and democratic representation mean for the next generation? '2024 is democracy’s biggest year ever, with more people voting on their leaders globally than ever before - paradoxically at a time when democracy is facing serious existential threats, not least disillusionment among young people.' #democracy #government #localgovernment #voting #childrensparliament
I’m excited to be speaking to the UK Children’s Parliament about democracy and the threats it faces, following on from my work with M&C Saatchi World Services and countless civil society organisations over the last eight years. 2024 is democracy’s biggest year ever, with more people voting on their leaders globally than ever before - paradoxically at a time when democracy is facing serious existential threats, not least disillusionment among young people. Last year, an international report by Open Society Foundations (OSF) found that only 57% of respondents aged 18 to 35 felt democracy was preferable to any other form of government, compared to 71% of people aged over 56. The study across 30 countries found that 35% of young people believed a “strong leader” who did not hold elections or consult parliament was “a good way to run a country”. I’m fascinated to hear how these younger children feel about democracy and the institutions on which it depends, because its future depends on them. https://lnkd.in/e3xrjdGy
