The young believers of democracy are responding to the democratic erosions by demonstrating their democratic ambitions and transforming political spaces through innovation, localized and intersectional approaches, arts, and digital media. Discontent with traditional political institutions has encouraged young people to create innovative and alternative spaces of political engagement. Thus, young people are at a critical juncture in reversing the anti-democratic trends, but the lack of a global youth campaign is a lost opportunity to capitalize on youth innovation to strengthen democracy.

The “What’s Next” campaign aims to fill this gap by building solidarity and empathy among these young visionary democratic leaders and civil society leaders striving to create a prosperous, democratic future. The campaign also aims to provide young democrats with a strategic framework for transforming these localized democratization actions into a global movement for democracy. With the support of the World Movement for Democracy, the next generation of committed democratic leaders in more than ten countries organized brainstorming sessions to project their vision for a democratic future and identify significant elements of a strategic framework for implementing their vision.

Youth Vision for Democracy

We, young people, believe that a democratic future is possible with young people at the forefront of democratic movements. The next generation of committed democrats is concerned with global democratic erosions and the growing discontent of young people with democracy. The next generation envisions a democratic future that responds to the contemporary challenges to democracy, is representative of diversity, and has mechanisms for protecting human rights. To revitalize the future of democracy, young people are working to transform political spaces through the innovative use of arts, intersectional localized approaches, digital platforms, and technology. The next generation of committed democrats is striving for a democratic future underpinned by the values of Inclusivity, Accountability, and Social Justice at its core.