Asked what he thought was the significance of France’s student revolt of 1968, the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai answered: “too soon to tell.” This must be one of the most misunderstood quotations of the last century with many historians pairing it with the French revolution instead. But the statement also fits neatly with youth activism today.
This is the first generation to grow up with a grasp of the climate crisis and the last that can do anything about it. We’re also the first generation in post-war history to inherit worse living standards than their predecessors.
With this is mind, it’s no wonder that we’re so prepared to protest and make our voices heard.
Download the new Indpendent Premium app
Sharing the full story, not just the headlines
Quite how the Spectator columnist Brendan O’Neill – who has referred to the youth being “Stepford-apathetic-zombies” in the past – believes that “the cult of youth undermines democracy” is beyond me. After years of moaning about our apathy, some in the establishment appear worried that we may take part.
In the same way that the climate emergency is gripping young people and compelling them to act, so too is Brexit. This is showing itself in the numbers of people registering to vote. In the four days that followed the calling of the general election, voter registration surged, with more than 516,000 applications, nearly 166,000 of these from under-25s.
Brexit will have a detrimental impact on our country and will hit young people the hardest. In response, my university alone sent four (full) coaches to the People’s Vote and Final Say marches in London.
That’s why we’re desperate for a politics in which we can purposefully participate. But that will be difficult if we don’t register to vote and take part in whatever way we can.
First, turnout in the 2016 referendum among 18 to 24-year-olds was double what was originally reported - 64 per cent turned up at the polls. No, it didn’t come close to the 90 per cent of over-65s who turned out to vote, but the surge in voter registration among young people can surely be used as evidence that we are increasingly engaged.
Unfortunately, we seem to have learned the hard way that if you are not going to vote then politicians aren’t going to make any effort to reach out or listen to you. The sad truth is that politicians running for election would always choose to canvass at places popular with older voters over somewhere like a youth centre. This is for the simple reason that the former will more likely turn up at the polling booths on election day while statistically very few young voters will do the same.
Polls also suggest that three quarters of newly eligible voters back Remain. This is in large part due to the tireless effort of groups such as Our Future Our Choice and For our Future’s Sake, which for the past two years have campaigned to educate about and debate on matters that will affect young people the most. There is little doubt that Brexit has politicised an entire generation and that makes ideas of apathy even more absurd.
Finally, nearly 1.3 million people under 34 have registered to vote in the past four months – a 50 per cent increase in registration compared to the same period in 2017. On 24 October alone, just under 14,000 under 25s registered to vote. The deadline to register for the first winter election since 1923 is midnight on November 26 — just 20 days away – and there’s a palpable sense of optimism that young people are driving change.
In short, while it may well be “too soon to tell” the full significance of the climate crisis and Brexit on youth activism, few would doubt its significance. Young people need to keep up pressure on those in power by being in the ballot booths and on the streets making our voices heard.
