Nardine Alnemr

In our recent research, we focus on options for rethinking the representation gap between young people’s lived experiences and formal politics. Examining three forms of representation – descriptive, discursive and recursive – has shown us that paying attention to these three forms can not only enhance the inclusion of young people within formal politics, but also improve the quality of democratic decision-making itself. This requires institutions and institutional actors that are willing to experiment with and implement democratic innovations of this kind. One recent project conducted in Australia, Connecting to Parliament, could offer valuable insights into pathways to young people’s inclusion in politics.