Barns inkludering i demokratin

Nya värderingar och åtgärder sedan den allmänna rösträttens införande

Abstract

Children’s inclusion in democracy: new values and measures since introduction of general suffrage

When general suffrage was introduced in Sweden 1921, the inclusion of children in democratic decision-making was not an issue. Nowadays, the situation is characterized by actions to make it possible for children to influence politics and simultaneously, when such needs arise, be protected from abuse. The analysis of these developments is focused on what has happened since the 1940’s with regard to voting-age, actions taken by public authorities, and children’s own organizing efforts within civil society. Globalization and digitalization have resulted in enlargement of the territorial scope of decision-making, and a global system of negotiation-based democratic governance is emerging. Many young people want to influence decisions, not least global challenges such as climate change. They support the messages put forward by Greta Thunberg and Fridays For Future. It is argued that this situation opens new “policy windows” which, in the long run, might make children fully included in democracy.