The privileged age of political nomenclature
The general impression is that the societies of the Western Balkans are, as a rule, slow, sluggish, inelastic and in many aspects quite rigid and rigid. All these are characteristics of the third age or old age, which, existentially speaking, has special problems and challenges. Simone de Beauvoir was absolutely right when she wrote at the end of the XNUMXs that society "is not only guilty but criminal towards the elderly". She was thinking of what is very easily noticed on the first days of the month, when a galaxy of pensioners receive, as a reward for their working life, a miserable sum that simply evaporates in the first days.
In addition to the financial aspect, which, referring to typical pension amounts, is extremely limited, it is difficult for stakeholders of the third age to quickly access all social services, especially health and other forms of social protection and services. De Beauvoir's ideas coincide with the fact that we ourselves observe, and it boils down to how the attitude towards the elderly shows the often carefully concealed truth about the very principles and goals by which every society is guided. However, while the older population is mostly excluded from all socially important dynamics, the older political nomenclature, partly ruling, partly oppositional, successfully imposes and dictates social topics "as if there is no tomorrow". Serious political science studies show that one of the characteristics of gerontocracy, that is, of older ruling gentlemen, and especially of party leaders, is weaker economic growth, propensity for conflicts and strengthening of interstate conflicts. Furthermore, they are characterized by chronically poor performance, in terms of the results and outcomes of their policies, and are expected to have reduced progressive ambitions aimed at the development of society. The detractors would say that their megalomania combined with disastrous social results is the ideal ingredient for the development of political authoritarian traits. Unfortunately, most of the young generation of politicians are guided by similar principles in public life.
Political rejuvenation
It would be expected that politicians of a younger age innovate, at least within the limits of the possible, certain segments of politics that are socially and really bad. This was one of the main motives behind the recent political rejuvenation of leaders in Europe, in prime ministerial and presidential positions (Renzi, Kurz, Macron, Marin, Varadkar) and, for example, in the positions of foreign ministers (Mogherini, Jeremic, Mladenov). So the top state functions are in the hands of the younger generation, who are, in truth, part of the existing system, but in the capacity to produce a more relaxed, functional and innovative policy. Although, many of those mentioned above have progressively aged politically, and then rapidly ended their political careers, some due to overemphasized ego, some due to corrupt actions. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, political rejuvenation took place at the local level, that of the cities, where twenty-year-olds, thirty-year-olds and slightly older forty-year-olds (Stanivuković, Karić and Kordić) took over the local government, which, by definition, is closest to the citizens. They recently sent a joint letter to Ursula von der Leyen, wanting to give young people a glimmer of hope for a more prosperous future, expressing their willingness to work together on European, urban and other forms of integration. The initiative, in itself, is positive, and the EU itself loves younger people - ideas, politicians, organizations - considering them a vital sign of democracy and a prerequisite for sustainable human development.
Authentically youthful
However, political youth is not measured on the declarative level - that of symbolism, letters, friendly gestures - although those aspects are also desirable, but on the ability to change old, aggravating and terribly boring policies. The majority of young people do not consider letters to be an important form of communication - they prefer TikTok, they do not believe in promises of prosperity (justifiably), and politicians are usually not perceived as authentic. Jacinta Ardern, now outgoing Prime Minister of New Zealand, believed that young people should be communicated with, and not just talked about, whose policies actively responded to the needs of young people, causing a real "hyacintomania" among young people and others. After a little less than six years in office, with such a rating and only a little more than forty years behind her, Prime Minister Ardern decided to retire because she just had enough. It is different in the regions closer to us, where even a few connected mandates, often lasting decades and mostly fruitless performances, are not enough to extinguish the will for power and longing for public office in individuals.
Changriz's political youth
Young politicians, when entering some of the social services or functions, seem to grow old in a moment, accepting the fixed ideas of the parties they come from in the form of mini political dogmas and become immersed in, at least from a slightly more western perspective, outdated forms of political and other communication. Having rapidly become politically mature, they seem to become inelastic, and to some extent even cynical - everything bothers them - starting with symbols, public dress code, different opinions, and they show extreme sensitivity to criticism addressed to them. Their self-criticism is completely in line with the majority of political and public actors - non-existent. Thus, they become almost completely unable to offer structural answers to the challenges that young people face, to the desire for a better life and a fairer type of society. Their adaptation to the existing order of things turns almost all similar societies into countries of rickety political age and false experience, from which both the young and the old, and those in between, leave.
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