A youth wing is a subsidiary, autonomous, or independently allied front of a larger organization (usually a political party but occasionally another type of organization) that is formed in order to rally support for that organization from members and potential members of a younger age , as well as to focus on subjects and issues more widely relevant among that organization's youth. Youth wings may also be discussion forums for younger members and supporters of the organization to debate policy and ideology.
8-471: The European Young Conservatives ( EYC ) is a grouping of youth wings of conservative and centre-right political parties in Europe. As of 2014, the group has a membership of 25 political youth organisations from 22 countries and territories, in addition to four associated members. The EYC is independent and not affiliated with any European political party , but maintains a non-exclusive relationship with
16-533: A minimum age of 15 years old to an upper age limit of 30 years old (although there are youth wings of political parties that have an upper age limit as high as 35). Youth wings are distinct from student wings , as the former is not necessarily established on, nor solely focused upon, a student-exclusive basis. Youth wings are not normally considered as factions of a political party, as youth wings are usually intended as youth focused extensions of party policy and ideology rather than being differently ideologised from
24-411: A split in the centre-right Democrat Youth Community of Europe (DEMYC), which separated into two factions: the larger part, following a broadly Christian democratic philosophy; and the smaller part, led by Rosindell, following a broadly conservative philosophy. Two crucial points of disagreement were the scope of economic liberalisation and the desirability of a federal Europe . From 1993 to 1997,
32-745: The European Conservatives and Reformists Party . The EYC is a full member of the International Young Democrat Union . The EYC was founded in August 1993 by the youth wings of the British Conservative Party , Danish Conservative People's Party , and Icelandic Independence Party , under the leadership of Andrew Rosindell , then-chairman of the UK's Young Conservatives . It emerged from
40-573: The EYC. The ethnic nationalists were opposed to the membership of Turkish and Israeli parties and claimed the EYC has "replaced anti-immigration politics with free market capitalism". Resulting from the dispute, the Finns Party Youth announced its withdrawal on May 18, 2017, with its leader Samuli Voutila saying: "We cannot be members in the same organization as the new Turkish sultan’s youth wing, when it acts against European values." On June 12,
48-595: The Estonian movement Blue Awakening sent a letter to the EYC demanding the expulsion of the Turkish AK Party Youth within seven days. The letter was later published on Richard B. Spencer 's website Altright.com . The EYC has twenty-five member organisations: Youth wing The term "youth wing" is most often used to refer to the youth wings of political parties ; in such youth wings, ranking or leading members are often seen, upon attainance of
56-454: The group was led by Rosindell. The group gave training to newly established democratic political parties in Russia , Belarus , and Azerbaijan . It was refounded much later by Oliver Cooper . The EYC generally holds three conference events per year, with the largest being the autumn Freedom Summit. Since 2016, an internal conflict between civic and ethnic nationalists has emerged within
64-502: The minimum age requirement, as potential leaders or bureaucrats of the main political party. This has led to a perception of political party youth wings as being mere gateways of employment opportunity in the government bureaucracy for younger members, especially in the case of dominant- or one-party systems where a party is ensured of victory at the polls. Political party youth wings mostly consist of young adults . The age requirement for most political party youth wings ranges between
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