Youth Participation In The Caribbean

Critically examining narratives of participation in governance and development, this volume adds Caribbean voices and experiences to the global discourse on youth participation. The essays provide empirical case studies of institutions, practices and processes of youth engagement in the politics of Caribbean development, orienting the reader to the political culture of the Caribbean and the position of youth within small societies. Covering experiences at intergovernmental, national and local levels, as well as formal and informal modes of participation, it examines how young people have organised themselves or have been organised to engage with the state and with community agents in politics, public policy and activism. It illustrates the heterogeneity of youth political participation, employing multi- disciplinary, multi- level and mixed- method analyses from the fields of demography, political science, social policy, development studies and youth development. Critical themes addressed include regional governance, democratic representation, online engagement, local governance and community development. In exploring these themes, the book discusses the legitimacy and inclusiveness of governance in relation to age, gender, race, geography and socio-economic status. The findings will be useful to students, researchers and policymakers alike who are keen to improve governance and contribute to inclusive sustainable development in the Caribbean.

This study uses an ecological framework to consider negative behaviors and outcomes observed among Caribbean youth, and also to identify ways to enhance positive influences. Casting aside the often narrow view taken of "youth" as a marginal issue, this report advocates the prioritization of youth development across all sectors, and identifies key principles and actions for moving forward.

This study is intended to define the situation of youth in Commonwealth Caribbean countries. It highlights the need for regional countries to invest greater resources in their youth as a critical human resource. Topics covered are: research on and country studies of youth in the Caribbean; socio-economic profile of Caribbean youth; youth concerns in the Caribbean; youth policies and programmes in the Caribbean.

This book offers a portrayal of the opportunities for social inclusion afforded to young people in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a view to building stronger youth policies in the region. The youth population must be included in development processes if progress is to be made towards more egalitarian societies because of what they mean in relation to dependency rates and the needs and issues particular to this stage of life. ECLAC construes the process of inclusion in society from a rights based perspective that transcends the basic pillars of education and employment to encompass other dimensions of social inclusion that are crucial for young people to progress not only in the objective parameters of inclusion, but also in subjective ones, so that they can feel part of a society they help to build. It examines education and the transition towards employment, access to health and important health-related considerations for this age group, the increasingly violent contexts facing youth, the cultural sphere --with particular attention to digital culture-- and political participation by young people, all from the perspective of coordinated sectoral policies.