Sometimes global development stories just never seem to end. CIPE’s 2011 International Youth Essay Contest is calling for stories that do.
When it comes to corruption, democracy activists often call for wrongdoers to be put behind bars. But putting people behind bars has never been a strong deterrent to future human rights violators. In fact, oftentimes the justification given for imprisoning or harming political enemies are accusations of previous human rights violations. Sometimes there’s a trial put on just for show, even though everyone knows the underlying reasons for imprisoning a political adversary. Sooner or later the imprisoned person gets out, or is let out thanks to international pressure, wins an election and does the same to those who imprisoned him. It just never ends.
CIPE wants to hear about solutions, not the same old story. Holding people responsible for wrongdoing is important, but not a solution. Put one person behind bars, and another steps into his place and faces the same opportunities and incentives. Do youth have a vision to start reducing those opportunities and incentives?
Another same old story is that of development assistance. On one hand the world is mostly off pace to reach the Millennium Development Goals for reducing poverty and improving quality of life in developing countries, giving many development advocates reason to demand more resources be allocated to their causes and more thoughtfulness devoted to the way in which they use resources. On the other hand, development critics insist that development assistance perpetuates donor-driven governments rather than democratic governments that respond directly to the everyday needs of their people and businesses.
While that battle rages on in the elite circles of Washington D.C., New York, London and elsewhere, CIPE wants to hear about what youth can do or are doing in their communities around the world to strengthen local ownership of development initiatives and even support development with local resources instead of resources from abroad. What can youth do to help make development assistance lead to sustainable, long-lasting change?
Another story is just beginning – that of the role of youth in new and emerging democracies. In the past year or so, popular movements for democratic government emerged in the Middle East and North Africa; an anti-corruption movement emerged in India, the world’s largest democracy, fueled in part by technology and punctuated by the high-profile protest fasting of Anna Hazare; and Southern Sudan became the world’s newest country after voting to secede from Sudan proper.
In each of those places and beyond, younger generations have played key roles in sparking change, but what about following through? How can youth organize to increase their presence in policy debates moving forward? Are current political or civil society organizations doing enough to reach out to youth? Is it more important for youth to create their own organizations? How can youth use mobile or online technology to strengthen their political presence?
The answers millions of youth around the world have to those questions, hopefully, can ensure that youth powering movements for democracy followed by youth marginalization does not become another never-ending story.
Eighty-seven days remain to put those answers in writing.
