1. Party youth organisations and their roles in Icelandic poltics
Hafsteinn Einarsson
Social Science Research Institute at the University of Iceland
12 May 2016

2. In this presentation … Youth and power Youth organisations …
In society
In the party
And ideology
The future of youth organisations
Summary
Examples from Icelandic politics
Issues
Tactics / strategy
Changing times, technology

3. Political parties in Iceland
The Independence Party
Historically dominant in Icelandic politics – right wing (conservative/libertarian)
The Progressive Party
Influential (preferred coalition partner) – centrist (liberal/rural interests)
Social Democratic Alliance
Newly formed, „two towers,“ declining power – centre-left
Left Green – left (socialism/environmentalism)
Pirate Party – anti-systemic, rising power? – appeals to young voters

4. What kind of power?
How can youth organization access power, if at all?
Max Weber – Authority

5. One of these is not like the others …

6. Institutional qualities of youth organisations
Mode of operation: party institution or pseudo-NGO?
Dynamic
Ideologically
Technologically
Institutional learning
New members
Party organisations – comparatively organised
Level of autonomy from parent organisation

7. Three roles of youth organisations
In society
In the party
Ideological position

8. Youth organisations in society
Recruitment
Media presence
Traditional media
Social media
Comparative advantage in organisation relative to other civil organisations

9. Owning the issue Putting issues on the agenda
Outdated policies / going a step further
Aligning the youth organisation with the public, versus the institutional structure
Beer, the EU, opposition to the Iraq war … what motivates the public to participate in party politics?

10. Youth organisations within the party
From the party’s perspective
Recruitment
Training
Instilling ideology
From the youth organisations perspective
Influence
Access to party institutions
Platform for political carreers

11. What is a successful strategy for a youth organization?
Party culture determines the strategy
Is stepping out of line punished or rewarded?
“The shorts”
Does youth recruitment increase by dissent?
Public opinion often determines party policy, but dissent can bolster recruitment of enthusiastic youths
Power relations within the party
Does power lie with the party elite or the base?

12. Youth organisations and ideology
Guardians of the “pure” ideology
Trade deals with China
Criticism of power relations
Criticizing mother party by bashing coalition partners
Applying ideology to new political situations
Environmentalism

13. New politics – new ideology?
Rejection of party control?
Anti-systemic ideology
Is it sustainable?
Can established parties appeal to youth on new terms?

14. The future of party youth organisations?
Cooperation with other youth organisations
Issue appeal rather than ideological appeal
Redefine intra-party relations
Further evolvement of (social) media tactics

15. Summary Youth party organisations operate on different premises from
… other youth organisations
… other party institutions
Party culture determines tactics
Different roles (society, party, ideology)
Rejection of established party politics – permanent or not?