The Situation of Young People’s Political Participation in Albania

Abstract

The right to participate in political life – especially for youth – is very important for an inclusive society. Although the population under the age of 30 represents about 40% of the total population in Albania, the participation of young people in the political, social, and economic spheres remains low. Under current conditions, the youth in Albania tend to remain uninvolved in policy-making, and thus unable to influence their social and economic status. This article points analyzes the economic, social, and political situation of Albanian youth with some recommendations for policy makers related to each area. The institutional and legal structures for young people and the participation of young people in politics are not well developed in Albania. There is a need to review and strengthen the country’s institutional/legal framework at all levels, in order to make young people a more important factor in the society.

Keywords

• youth
• political participation
• voting process
• democracy