A youth wing is a subsidiary, autonomous, or independently allied front of a larger organization (usually a
political party
A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific ideological or p ...
but occasionally another type of organization) that is formed in order to rally support for that organization from members and potential members of a
younger age, as well as to focus on subjects and issues more widely relevant among that organization's youth. Youth wings may also be discussion forums for younger members and supporters of the organization to debate policy and ideology.
Political parties
The term "youth wing" is most often used to refer to the youth wings of
political parties
A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology ...
; in such youth wings, ranking or leading members are often seen, upon attainance of the minimum age requirement, as potential leaders or bureaucrats of the main political party. This has led to a perception of political party youth wings as being mere gateways of employment opportunity in the government
bureaucracy
The term bureaucracy () refers to a body of non-elected governing officials as well as to an administrative policy-making group. Historically, a bureaucracy was a government administration managed by departments staffed with non-elected offi ...
for younger members, especially in the case of
dominant- or
one-party
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government ...
systems where a party is ensured of victory at the polls.
Political party youth wings mostly consist of young
adults
An adult is a human or other animal that has reached full growth. In human context, the term ''adult'' has meanings associated with social and legal concepts. In contrast to a " minor", a legal adult is a person who has attained the age of maj ...
. The age requirement for most political party youth wings ranges between a minimum age of 15-years-old, to an upper age limit of 30-years-old (although there are youth wings of political parties that have an upper age limit as high as 35).
Youth wings carry politicians to greater heights
''Swissinfo''. Published 11 July 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
Distinctions
From student wings
Youth wings are distinct from student wing
A student wing is a subsidiary, autonomous, or independently allied front of a larger organization that is formed in order to rally support from students and focus on student specific issues, typically of those attending college or university. Stu ...
s, as the former is not necessarily established on, nor solely focused upon, a student-exclusive basis.
From political factions
Youth wings are not normally considered as factions of a political party, as youth wings are usually intended as youth focused extensions of party policy and ideology rather than being differently ideologised from the leadership of the party proper. However, sometimes they may advocate for different issues within the scope of the party ideology than the party as a whole.
See also
* Women's wing
* Student wing
A student wing is a subsidiary, autonomous, or independently allied front of a larger organization that is formed in order to rally support from students and focus on student specific issues, typically of those attending college or university. Stu ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Youth Wing
Political terminology
Youth wings of political parties