Youth political participation in the post-agreement: a look at the cases of the municipalities of San Carlos and San Francisco in the department of Antioquia, in Colombia

Abstract

This article proposes a comparative analysis between the municipal development plans (PDM) of 2012 and 2016, with respect to youth political participation in territories that were scenarios of the Colombian internal conflict, such as the cases of the municipalities of San Carlos and San Francisco in the department of Antioquia. Based on this analysis, the results obtained in the interviews made to officials of the educational establishments of the municipalities under study are connected. In this regard, the paper analyzes that, although the final peace agreement has formally allowed the reopening of the legal mechanisms of political participation, this exercise by young people in these municipalities is perceived as fragile, due to the few guarantees it offers them. It is concluded that the youth political participation experienced by these municipalities corresponds to “non traditional” forms of exercise, which is perceived by young people as the most effective mechanism to assert their voice in the midst of society.

Keywords

• políticas institucionales
• participación política juvenil
• municipios en fase de posacuerdo