Introduction
According to the United Nations’ Convention, a child is defined to be anyone below the age of eighteen (Aiken and Lafollette, 1980). A couple of countries, however, define a child to be anyone below twenty one years. Power and politics are two inseparable elements that apply to everyone in the society, from the unborn, little children, young adults to the adults in the society. This is because power and politics come with laws, regulations and legislations that govern a country. In the society we live in, the majority of the people in power are usually the senior citizens of the country, usually above the age of fifty. These senior citizens are usually elected on the basis of influence, uncertainty, tradition, religious beliefs and experience, because they have held the positions for a long. Youths in governments are very few, except for the past decade, whereby leadership positions are slowly being handed over to the youths (Hasci, 2003).
Politics, power and children
The most interesting thing that in fact many leaders and the general public fail to see is that the decisions these political leaders make (for example the constitutional changes) will have heavier impacts on the children than they have on them. This is because the children will grow to find the legislation and will have to learn to live with them. These legislations will have major impacts on how the children will live in the future. In some states especially the underdeveloped and developing ones, legislations are very rigid to change, and when changed, usually go through a long process. This may prove disadvantageous to future generations because changing them will be tasking (Stephens, 1995).
Secondly, political changes also have a lot of effects on the children because the directions that politicians head the country will affect the future political situation of the country. The majority of countries do not even consult children or ask for their views before passing bills into laws. It is a good idea and a determinant that should be considered before passing bills. A number of developed and developing states have a Children’s Parliament, headed by teenagers and junior high school youths (Hasci, 2003). These have played a significant role in helping leaders and specialists to determine what this young generation wants and expects of the senior citizens (their parents).
As Hasci argues out, children’s rights are also determined by the politics and leaders that govern a state. Some liberationalists defend the motion children should have equal rights with adults. This is a motion that has been under debate and interestingly, children and young adults have been called upon to give their views on this (Hasci, 2003).
Conclusion
With all these observations, the general conclusion is that children have been neglected in the past in matters concerning politics and power, but this trend has been changing gradually in the past decade. It is important to include children either actively or passively in politics and power, because they will have to be involved in the future running of the country and early initiation will help them acquire early experience in these fields (Greenstein, 1970).
Involving children in politics and power will also enable them to practice their democratic rights. However, the power should be a controlled form of power and politics, closely monitored by senior citizens and the children should therefore be guided and directed on how to exercise their powers and prerogatives. When these children grow up, they turn out to be more responsible adults (Stephens, 1995).
References
Aiken, W. and Lafollette, H. (1980). Whose child?: Children rights, parental authority and state power. New York: Littlefield Adams & Co. Print.
Greenstein, F. (1970). Children and Politics: political science study. Yale: Yale University Press. Print.
Hacsi, T.A. (2003). Children as pawns: The politics of educational reform. New York: Havard University Press. Print.
Stephens, S. (1995). Children and the politics of culture. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton university press. Print.