Engaging the Next Generation: A Field Perspective of Youth Inclusion in Myanmar’s Peace Negotiations

Abstract

Literature examining the participation of youth during peace processes is limited. Previous work has often focused on youth as “peacebuilders” and agents of change or threats to peace in the post-accord period, with little emphasis on how young people participate during the negotiation phase. This article seeks to fill this gap by assessing youth inclusion and participation in Myanmar’s ongoing peace negotiations. The study finds that, while youth have not had formal inclusion avenues in the peace negotiations, there are cohorts of young people who perceive themselves to be legitimate stakeholders in the peace process, who have attempted to gain access to decision-making in the peace negotiations, and have played active roles in supporting the process. It is argued that recognizing youth as key stakeholders in the peace accord will play a vital role in building sustainable peace within Myanmar’s nascent democracy.

Toward a Normative Turn in Track Two Diplomacy? A Review of the Literature

“…This broad call for inclusive processes without defining how, why, and for whom, has prompted mediation scholars to theorize different rationales for inclusive peace processes (Hirblinger and Landau 2020). These rationales exist on a spectrum, ranging from the strategic inclusion of armed actors for reasons related to durable peace agreements (Nilsson 2012), a need for power sharing (Raffoul 2020), and incentives for actors identified as spoilers (Blaydes and de Maio 2010; Zahar 2010; Nilsson and Söderberg Kovacs 2011); to the inclusion of civil society (Wanis St‐John and Kew 2008)—particularly women (Lorentzen 2020), youth (Grizelj 2019), religious leaders (Kmec and Ganiel 2019), and business actors (Alluri 2013)—for normative imperatives of empowerment and rights‐based participation.…”

Reciprocal institutional visibility: Youth, peace and security and ‘inclusive’ agendas at the United Nations

“…Despite pervasive disregard, youth have been actively working for peace and security in many contexts globally (United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY) and Search for Common Ground (SFCG), 2017). These organizations have a unique stake in the outcome of peacebuilding practices and have demonstrated their capacity to contribute to sustainable peace in diverse, substantive and innovative ways (Grizelj, 2019; McEvoy-Levy, 2006; Pruitt, 2015; UNOY and SFCG, 2017). While young people have a history of mobilising to challenge the status quo, until recently their agency has evolved alongside formal structures rather than within them.…”

The Normative Agency of Regional Organizations and Non‐governmental Organizations in International Peace Mediation*

“…Thus, the current global script of inclusivity embodies liberal pillars such as representative democracy, the rule of law, humanitarianism, market-based economic reform, and development (Richmond 2006;Palmiano Federer 2019). In this global script, inclusivity means that marginalized, unarmed groups supposedly independent from governments such as civil society (Jewett 2019), women (Zwingel 2012), and youth (Grizelj 2019) get a say in decision-making. Mediation research has explored various process designs, such as multi-track negotiations (Palmiano Federer et al 2019), national dialogues (Planta et al 2015;Schmitz 2014;Zyck 2014), and consultative mechanisms (Bell and O'Rourke 2016) to incorporate various groups in mediation processes.…”