I opted out back when I first had to face the real world. Nine to five job, dismal office cubicles, boring people, tiny apartment? I got myself a job on a game reserve and had two great years. Then politics caught up. I criticized political developments, and my father replied: "If you want to make a difference, get involved, otherwise shut up."

Young people worldwide are increasingly refusing to be charmed, urged, or cajoled into brutal hours and meaningless work. The Chinese "Tang Ping"  phenomenon is also apparent in other parts of the world, such as America.

In Africa, observers worry that Nigerian youth may not participate in the 2023 general elections, although they can play a deciding role in the future of their country. Sixty-four percent of people under 30 sat out the US mid-term elections in 2018, although this trend was somewhat reversed in 2020. Congress is now contemplating legislation to this effect. 

Research in South Africa pointed out that disillusionment with the political system lies at the heart of youth apathy. A 2016 study by the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies concluded that trust between the youth and governmental structures has broken down. Corruption and socio-economic challenges play a major role in youth apathy. A sense of helplessness faced with a complicated system exacerbates the problem. 

In Kenya, the same picture emerges: Young people feel that decades of democracy have not ended the plunder of the economy by the ruling class. Vigorous efforts by authorities did not succeed in getting more than 12% of potential young voters to register for the upcoming general elections. In some cases, hospitals refused service to people who could not show that they had registered.

In Japan, free noodles were apparently offered to people who can show proof that they had voted in an effort to entice young voters. 

I had an interesting discussion a while ago with a young lady in Mauritius. Extremely articulate and well-informed, she analyzed the island's political system, its weaknesses, and foibles. When asked why she does not get involved, she answered: "Me? What can I do apart from refusing to vote?"

Turns out that there is a lot one can do. The role of non-governmental organizations, civic action groups, and faith-based groups play an increasing role in pressuring governments into taking action. Citizen journalism increasingly plays a role in exposing financial corruption and political malfeasance. 

The Kenyan experience shows that it is not about taking power but about fixing the political machinery. The problem is not who is sitting when the music stops. It is the game itself. Good journalism, public insistence, and judicial rigor forced a wide-ranging inquiry into South African political corruption that wounded the ruling party, perhaps mortally.