4. YOUTH PARTICIPATION: SELF-DETERMINATION OR SOCIAL CONTROL?

In the months preceding the International Youth Year (1985), we hear many statements about youth participation in society, in "development", in “nation-building" and so on. However, brief ana4ysis reveals that this participation is a form of social control, of drafting youth into the status quo and ensuring they conform to goals and patterns of life decided by the national elite.

For youth and student movements, participation entails self-determination, self-reliance, the role of an organised transformative and challenging force which takes its inspiration from the life experience of ordinary people, peasants and workers.

Yet the systems of global control are so powerful that resistance may appear hopeless. However, the fact that militarization is a major trend in Asia (remonstrates that more subtle forms of social control have not been successful. Militarization includes not only increased repressive power of the State's military organizations but also a kind of "invisible" militarization: control of education, use of media to manipulate national consciousness, biological engineering of the population, promotion of consumerism, turning the parliament and courts into a rubber stamp, changing politics from a contest for public support between rivals to a process of eliminating "enemies".

For youth the result is a kind of "double poverty". As well as the poverty and deprivation caused by neo-colonial structures, youth suffer the destruction of Personality and personal relationships, increased physical and mental illness, a distorted, abusive relationship with nature, a commercialization of human spiritually and culture — a loss of hope and meaning.

Youth have an important role in social transformation. But whether youth participation in society is more usually part of the social manipulation of ruling elites rather than a quest for self-determination is a matter which requires deeper analysis.

Therefore the present situation must be examined: the nature, agents and justifications of social control, the reinforcing of the

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poverty reproducing system and the emergence of "double" poverty by which youth, especially women, are adversely affected.

Social Control

In the past, the social control used in different Asian and Pacific countries could be identified as a direct, visible tool, that is, militarization. But the present situation is changing from a direct to an indirect and higher form of systematic social control.

The evolution of militarization can be identified in four stages

(refer Chart I in Appendix III)*

- the elites control the masses.

- people rise up (e.g. students, workers, peasants).

- direct confrontation between elites and the masses. The elites make use of militarization to control the masses.

- the elites make use of systematic social control which is the higher stage of militarization using propagation of state religions (e.g. "development", "modernization").

The results of this social control can be identified in specific forms of oppression of the people. Some common forms in the Asia-Pacific region are:

- propagation of elitist culture.

- racist ideologies, values and attitudes.

- sexist ideologies, values and attitudes.

- use of religion to support oppressive status quo.

- limited forms of education which serve the transnational corporations' economic strategy (e.g. offering a narrow curriculum emphasizing complex technology).

In terms of the stages of evolution of militarization, most Asia-Pacific countries are in the third and fourth stages. However, there are significant variations in these stages among different countries.

Justification Of Social Control

The ideology of "new devei6pmentalism for modernization" (refer Chart 2) is the major state religion used by the ruling class as the Justification for control. The ruling elites propagate this ideology to explain the coexistence of growth and stagnation in the region. They justify the stagnation as a transitional phenomenon. They promise that a bright future will come soon.

In order to "solve" this "transitional" stagnation, foreign investment and technology, efficient management (like labour

______________

* for all subsequent charts see Appendix III

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mobilization under strict control), technologically-oriented education and population control (social engineering) are necessary. As a result there is a high degree of foreign and social control.

It is clear that new developmentalism for modernization is a myth that the ruling elites use to justify their control of the people. This kind of subtle control is more powerful than visible militarization and is increasingly used in the region (e.g. India's Five Year Plan and Taiwan's Ten Major Constructions).

A subsidiary of the ideology of new developmentalism is the ideology of national security, stability and prosperity. All kinds of (Opposition can be eliminated because they pose a threat to national security and stability which, everybody is told, are pre-requisites for modernization. Opposition people are no longer rivals, they are enemies to be killed. Thus legislation is enacted such as the National Security Act of India, the Internal Security Acts of Malaysia and Singapore and repressive legislation in most countries. Hence also the escalating national defence expenditures in Taiwan, Philippines, Korea and elsewhere to defend the state from its own citizens.

Reinforcement Of Poverty Reproduction System

Isolation and marginalisation of the people occurs with increasing suppression by the ruling elite (see Charts 3 to 6). Thus people's movements become much more difficult to organise.

Destruction Of People, Community And Nature

Poverty is the systematic deprivation of human rights which threatens survival, dignity and well-being and denies access to resources. It can be understood in three dimensions: personal, social ;and environmental.

With the rise of new developmentalism, a new poverty syndrome has been established in developed Asian countries. This is now growing at an alarming rate in the developing countries as well.

The common tyranny of physical poverty experienced by the majority of Asia-Pacific peoples has been intensified by new forms of social control and deprivation. This intensification or new form of poverty can be most easily identified among those who manage to rise to a level of economic self-sufficiency or even achieve middle-class status. It is referred to here as the "double poverty" syndrome. It adds to the agony of the poorest as well as frustrating and stunting the lives of the working class and emerging middle-class.

At the personal level, the individual is exploited physically and

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mentally and this may result in malnutrition, Injury, sickness, starvation or death. There are many symptoms of the personal poverty syndrome: occupational accidents, psychological disorders geriatric diseases, obesity, alcoholism, drug abuse, toxic chemical poisoning, inadequate housing (refer to Chart 7, phase A).

At the community level, subjects are exploited spiritually. Human relationships and people's sense of self-determination are adversely affected. The consequences are frustration, anomic, powerlessness and insecurity.

The symptoms of the community poverty syndrome are broken families, highly competitive education, over-crowding problems, western consumerism, sex commercialisation (refer Chart 7, phase B).

At the ecological level the ecosystem is disrupted and destroyed by pollution, deforestation, natural disasters such as floods and drought.

This ecological poverty syndrome also occurs through radioactive pollution, dumping of toxic agricultural chemicals and exports of hazardous products.

Youth As Primary Victims Of Development And Militarisation

Youth, especially women, are primary victims (see chart 8). Youth suffer from highly competitive examination systems, and inadequate schooling opportunities, over-emphasis on technological education, neglecting social sciences and humanities or arts education. Youth have limited employment opportunities in Asian-Pacific countries. There are high rates of youth unemployment' Youth are exploited under poor working conditions. Some are engaged in unhealthy service industries or in prostitution and street gangs.

Youth goals and aspirations are increasingly based on materialism and thus perverted. The youth mentality is forced into consumerism.

Youth are drafted and used for militarisation. They become repressive agents for the ruling elites and are used to suppress all kinds of opposition. Student movements and youth activism are under severe oppression.

Conclusion

The analysis and strategies of five to ten years ago are not adequate for the 1980's. Asian-Pacific countries are undergoing

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rapid change with the introduction of the imported package of new developmentalism for modernization.

Peoples' Organisation for transformation requires a new comprehensive strategy to counter the propagation of new developmentalism. Understanding the real nature of 'modernization', 'consumerism', the 'Look East Policy' etc., is crucial to consolidating people's struggles in a more unified and effective way.

We need to expose the dark side of the symbols of modernization and to understand the connection between the many problems which face Asia-Pacific countries. The problems are not separate issues, not minor concerns to be eventually overcome by economic growth. They are not necessary evils in the process of development. They are fundamental contradictions systematically introduced as a package deal of modernization. Consequently, people are forced to suffer in "double poverty" situations.

Authentic Youth Participation: Building And Maintaining Youth And Student Movements.

Different levels of youth participation in response to people's movements were identified:

- Conscientization and education.

- Use of institutional structures, e.g. media to create pressure, and provide support and solidarity.

- Cultural redirection and resurgence, through the arts, e.g. painting, poetry, songs, drama.

- Mass agitational action, e.g. protest rallies.

- Involvement in political organizations e.g. Trade Unions.

- Involvement in grass-root organizations e.g. Co-operatives.

- Involvement in human rights organizations.

- Armed Struggle.

In order to be clear about the problems that face youth participation for the people, we identified forms of youth involvement that are named 'Youth participation' but in reality work against and/or are in opposition to the people’s movements

- Consultation: Organised by those in power, the hierarchy consult with the youth. The youth think they are in dialogue but in fact they are being co-opted and compromised.

- Tokenism: Those in power offer token positions, power or voice to youth which are totally ineffective and give no power.

- Imposed leadership: Those in power organise co-opted youth to direct and lead youth and decide for youth.

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- Institutional control of youth movements: The hierarchy of the institutions control the direction of youth movements. Forms of authentic youth participation include:

§ Political Organisation.

§ Counter consciousness raising.

§ Networking.

§ Ecumenical vision.

Recommendations

The Ecumenical Youth Movement and Ecumenical Meetings:

1. We recommend that Asia-Pacific ecumenical assemblies and national meetings should be held and priority should be given to countries meeting in sub-regions to facilitate networking.

Pacific: Aotearoa, Australia, New Caledonia.

North East Asia: Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong.

Sub-Continent: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal.

South-East Asia: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei, East Timor, Burma and Indonesia.

2. We recommend that CCA YOUTH facilitate or organise regular consultations among the sub-regions of Asia-Pacific.

3. We recommend that the structure of Assemblies such as the AYA reflect ecumenism in the programme content, worship and space for all religious and ideological groups whereby dialogue and networking can occur between these different groups.

4. We recommend that ecumenical youth movements network with other ideological and religious groups acting out the spirit of ecumenism.

5. Further critical research is needed on new developmentalism, "double poverty", new forms of systematic social control; and alternatives for self-determination.

6. We recommend

- that each country finds or forms a collective research team to study each national situation;

- that CCA YOUTH/WSCF compile the research findings from each country and facilitate regional analysis;

- that each country develops resource materials (posters, pamphlets) and organises regional and national public awareness campaigns on new developmentalism and "double poverty".

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Networking

Specific aims of networking:

- To foster and strengthen ecumenical relationships among the youth movements.

- To consolidate and increase youth involvement in the people's struggles.

- To provide personal support through sharing experiences.

- To share information, material resources and strategies.

Specific Networking Recommendations

1. We recommend that first priority be given to indigenous peoples of the Asia-Pacific region, in representing their countries at international meetings.

2. We recommend that second priority be given to ethnic or religious minorities in representing their countries at international meetings.

3. We recommend that first, indigenous people, second, ethnic or religious minorities from other regions in the world (e.g. North America) be given priority in representing their country.

4. We recommend that priority be given to women, to represent their countries at Asia-Pacific meetings.

5. We recommend that at national and international levels of Asia-Pacific ecumenical movements, priority be given to women's participation in terms of.

- Staff positions;

- Decision-making bodies;

- Other positions of power.

6. We recommend that CCA YOUTH facilitate ecumenical youth movements forming specific networks on the basis of specific issues and concerns: young workers' rights, liberation struggles, racism, women's issues, land rights.

7. We recommend CCA YOUTH organise:

- Regular youth exchange programmes that facilitate strategising and networking on particular issues or concerns e.g. land rights.

- Regular internship programmes that facilitate strategising and networking on particular issues or concerns e.g. women workers.

9. We recommend that CCA YOUTH act as an information distributing centre for collecting and disseminating information and solidarity appeals for people's struggles from the Asia-Pacific countries and that each country assigns one person, or a group of people to act as national reporters..