Challenges of youth political participation: a study focused on Akkaraipattu divisional secretariat areas

Abstract

Political participation refers to the engagement of citizens in the political processes of their country. The concept encompasses the activities of through which individuals to express their opinion, influence decision - making, and engage in actions that shape governance.in a democratic system, Political participation is not limited to voting in elections. It also includes joining political parties and participating in public activities as well as other forms of civic engagement. Particularly, youth political participation is crucial for a thriving democracy. As it ensures the Representation of the young generation’s needs and interest, it brings new perspective and Drive significant political and social change. In many democratic nations, young people constitute a significant proportion of the population, underscoring their potential impact on societal development. However, in the Akkaraipattu divisional secretariat areas, political participation among youth remains notably low, the main objective of the research is to identify the challenges hindering their involvement in political participation process of youths. Living in areas under the Akkaraipattu divisional secretariat and to provide recommendations to address these challenges. In order to achieve the objective of the research, primary data was collected through the structured questionnaires and interviews targeting individuals aged 24 to 30. The study was based on mixed research methodology using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Accordingly, a convenience sampling method was utilized to select participants from the target demographic, and secondary data was sourced from the internet, research papers, reports and journals. The findings of the research reveals several key barriers to youth political participation in the selected research area. These include a lack of awareness about the benefits of political involvement, Lack of economic resources, insufficient political knowledge, and low level of trust in political intuitions, inadequate civic education, and cultural barriers. These insights are expected to assist policy makers and youth leaders in enhancing effective strategies to promote political participation among youth people in particular research area, thereby contributing to the strengthening of democratic processes.