Influential politicians or ‘youth alibi’? A study of young councillors in Norwegian municipalities

Young Norwegians seem to rally around traditional political institutions. The turnout rate among first-time voters has increased, and the there is a remarkable increase in young councilors in Norwegian local councils. We notice two major changes in the gender pattern of political participation. Women in the age group of 18-23 votes more than men in the same cohort do; and the majority of councilors in Norwegian municipalities under the age of 26 are young women. Among councilors in general, men are in majority (63 percent). Drawing on a survey to all young councilors in 20 selected municipalities and on survey data to a nationwide population sample of youth, the paper investigates the relationship between gender and traditional forms of political participation among youth. To shed light on this relationship, the paper raises the following questions: What characterizes the group of local political youth elite? What motivates them to participate? Do they feel empowered as councilors or do they feel as a “youth alibi” without political influence? Do we identify a skewed pattern of political opportunity structures between young women and men? Preliminary analyzes indicate that young councilors in Norwegian municipalities feel they have more political influences in the party than in council meeting, the exception being youth related issues. Further analyzes indicate that the local policy agenda and structure appeals more to young women than young men, indicating a potential gender revolution in the traditional arena of politics.