“Youth in Kosovo: From Apathy to Engagement – How to Increase Political Participation and Influence?”, was the topic discussed on this Tuesday Salon.
To discuss this topic, the event featured: Ditjon Fetahu, Executive Director at KYC; Alban Bajrami, Member of Parliament in the Assembly of Kosovo; and Egzon Osmanaj, Program Manager at FES. The salon was moderated by Erblin Hoxha, Executive Director of ODA Consulting.
Youth interest and participation in politics in Kosovo is alarmingly low. According to a study by FES, nearly half of young people aged 14–29 express no interest in politics, a percentage higher than in the region. Furthermore, around 40% admit to knowing nothing about politics, a concerning issue for democracy despite the majority of the population supporting it.
Only 10% of youth have been involved in political parties, and 60% say they would never consider engaging in any political party, clearly reflecting widespread apathy towards political involvement.
The current political culture favors youth with a family legacy in politics, discouraging others and reducing motivation for activism and influence in the political sphere.
Another issue lies in the lack of education on political engagement, which is often understood solely through the lens of political parties. Awareness needs to be raised through schools, media, and civil society by promoting knowledge and legal rights to encourage youth to become more actively involved.