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“DO something!” So demanded Michelle Obama of her audience earlier this summer at the Democratic National Convention in a speech which spoke to the frustration of progressive political leaders in these troubled times for democracy.

Populism and polarisation are stalking western liberal societies. At the time of writing, polls suggest Donald Trump’s MAGA movement is on course to repeat his 2016 triumph in the 2024 US elections. On the other side of the fence, within centrist liberal political movements, campaigners fear their supporters are too busy at home sitting on Instagram or TikTok, to go out winning converts to their cause. Mrs Obama’s speech at the convention – where she instructed delegates to “put down that phone….pick our selves up, throw water on our faces and do something!” – was a blunt call for people to re-engage with to their civic duties.

The frustration is well merited. Many people, especially younger groups, are switching off active politics entirely. Membership of political parties – both in the US and here – is on the wane. The danger is that our public square is becoming dangerously hollowed out – occupied only by the din of social media and the voices of extremists and populists whose easy solutions to complex problems offer little but more disappointment.

We want to hear especially from people who are under-represented in our public life: we believe that greater diversity in politics is crucial.

I believe it’s up to each and every one of us to turn this around – as Mrs Obama says, to do something and act. But in an age where many people feel locked out from the political process, or alienated by it, it’s also the case that we also need to make it easier – especially for younger people – to get involved.

That is where the John Smith Centre at the University of Glasgow comes in. In the ten years since we started work, more than 120 students here have taken part in one of our internships, with MSPs or MPs. They’ve learnt the ropes, made contacts, and in many cases gone on to forge a career in politics and public life. Our aim is to break down barriers to politics and empower and inspire wider political participation and engagement in the UK, helping students who are interested in politics to get stuck in. We want to hear especially from people who are under-represented in our public life: we believe that greater diversity in politics is crucial.

We also run events here on campus which are designed to show students how to do politics better. We are bringing politicians, journalists and civic leaders to the University to learn more about the craft of politics and the way to get things done.

This coming academic year will also see us taking our message across the UK with a new Youth Poll we’re publishing, setting out the views of young people. We will be using that to set out our call for a better politics – one that encourage people, especially young people, to take an active role in the country’s public life.

If you want to do something but don’t know how, we’d love to hear from you. You can contact us at: johnsmithcentre@glasgow.ac.uk

Eddie Barnes is the former Head of Strategy and communications to Ruth Davidson and Political Editor of the Scotsman. He is currently the Director of the University of Glasgow's John Smith Centre.

Published 23 October 2024