How Young Protest Can Become Politically Effective

This was the topic of the discussion this Tuesday at the theatre Dresden. 

In 2021, the German Federal Court made a ground-breaking ruling: Climate protection may no longer be delayed into the future and thus unilaterally at the expense of the fundamental rights and freedoms of young generations. Youth climate protests are slowly bearing fruit - too slowly? The participation of young people, especially in the field of climate policy, is a must at all decision-making levels. Because the anger is growing, more and more are renouncing a gracious "being listened to" without effect. 

This also raises the question of the actual scope of politics and the role of economic power relations. Without a clear agenda, also and especially in international political organisations, the paradigm shift will hardly make any progress. But how do we get more and, above all, binding participation of the young generation? What are the barriers and resistance among political actors? 

Julian A. Hettihewa, research assistant and doctoral student at the Institute for International Law at the University of Bonn, Emilia Luisa Schulz and Tyran Sobadky, Fridays for Future Dresden, discussed these questions with Prof. Dr. Anna Holzscheiter, Professor of Political Science with a focus on international politics at the TU Dresden. Prof. Holzscheiter was able to share impressions from her research project on youth representation and participation in international politics. 

In cooperation with Weiterdenken, the Heinrich Böll Foundation Saxony, and the Staatsschauspiel Dresden, a series of events is currently taking place with the title "When everything is at stake - political protest between effectiveness and hate".  Next Tuesday, 27 June, the topic will be: "Protest <--> Culture - Demarcation and Exchange in

turbulent times". More information on the event series can be found here.