‘Representational Irony’: Navigating Succession Planning in Youth Civil Society Organisations

Abstract

A strong civil society is fundamental to the wellbeing and resilience of communities. Young people play powerful in civil society activism, but their contribution is yet to be fully grasped and appreciated. As the 10-year anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security approaches in 2025, more action is needed to genuinely include, prioritise and champion the role and perspectives of young people. Succession planning is an important aspect of youth civil society activism. Whilst much has been written about the topic in the public and private sectors, very little exists in the context of civil society organisations, and in particular, in youth civil society organisations. Drawing on lived experience of voluntarily coordinating a youth feminist organisation in Australia, I argue there are six added complexities that youth civil society organisations face. As part of feminist ethic of practice, the purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of ‘representational irony’ and in doing so, share learnings, reflections, and practical recommendations to assist others. Whilst the paper focuses on youth civil society activism, learnings apply more broadly to stewardship and succession planning in organisations that seek to include and champion young people.