Will Urban Youth Fundamentally Change African Politics?

Jul 31, 2024

Professors Amy Patterson and Megan Hershey explore the transformative potential of Africa's youthful population in shaping politics. They discuss how young people are contesting marginalization and claiming citizenship, particularly in the context of recent protests in Kenya. The conversation delves into the complexities of youth identity, civic engagement, and community responsibility. They argue that the narrative around youth isn't simply about problems or solutions but reflects a more nuanced and dynamic reality, highlighting the importance of grassroots activism and education.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Youth Engagement and Identity in Politics

02:02 • 3min

Redefining Youth in African Politics

04:54 • 7min

Exploring Youth Perspectives on Citizenship and Community Engagement

12:03 • 4min

Youth, Community, and Political Engagement in Africa

16:17 • 19min

The Potential of Africa's Youth for Political Transformation

35:44 • 4min

Will Africa’s increasingly youthful population lead to new democratic and development breakthroughs? Or will it generate fresh instability as frustrated young people demand economic opportunities their governments cannot provide? In this episode, Nic Cheeseman talks to Professors Amy Patterson and Megan Hershey about their recent book Africa’s Urban Youth. They explain how young people across Africa are contesting marginalization and claiming citizenship, and set out the broader context that led to Kenya’s youth-led protests of June/July 2024. They also push back against simple binaries that depict the youth as either a problem or a solution – the reality, they point out, is both more nuanced and more interesting.

Amy Patterson is Professor of Politics and the Director of the Office of Civic Engagement at the University of the South and Megan Hershey is a Professor of Political Science at Whitworth University in Spokane Washington. Along with Professor Tracy Kuperus, Professors Patterson and Hershey have published an important new book on Africa’s Urban Youth: Challenging Marginalization, Claiming Citizenship (Cambridge UP, 2023). Their work breaks new ground based on in-depth research in a number of African countries, and is sure to be a touchstone for the emerging literature on youth politics for years to come.

Nic Cheeseman is the Professor of Democracy and International Development at the University of Birmingham and Founding Director of CEDAR.

The People, Power, Politics podcast brings you the latest insights into the factors that are shaping and re-shaping our political world. It is brought to you by the Centre for Elections, Democracy, Accountability and Representation (CEDAR) based at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. Join us to better understand the factors that promote and undermine democratic government around the world and follow us on Twitter at @CEDAR_Bham!

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