15. Between promise and practice: a scoping review of the democratic outcomes of youth participation in local governance

Ramos, F., Tavares, A. F., & da Cruz, N. F. (2026). Between promise and practice: a scoping review of the democratic outcomes of youth participation in local governance. Children and Youth Services Review, 181, 108738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108738

This article presents a scoping review of 48 empirical studies on youth participation in local governance across 24 countries, examining the gap between its democratic promise and institutional practice. The literature identifies five main rationales for youth participation: improving public policies, defending rights, fostering civic skills, strengthening democracy, and promoting youth empowerment. Using Nabatchi and Amsler’s framework, the study assesses outcomes at individual, community, and governmental levels. Positive effects are strongest at the individual level, where young participants report increased civic engagement, leadership skills, confidence, and political knowledge. At the community level, youth contribute to expanding civic space and improving access to public services. However, outcomes at the governmental level are more contradictory. While youth input can enrich policymaking, participation is often symbolic, marked by limited deliberation, weak representation, and lack of real decision-making power. The study highlights a “participation–power paradox”: youth engagement succeeds as personal development but rarely reshapes governance structures. Effective participation requires meaningful deliberation, accountability mechanisms, and genuine power-sharing.