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All that glitters is (not) gold: A critical approach to the CLLD methodology in the context of local youth policy

Despite its relevance, local youth policy is still inadequately explored field of public policy. On the one hand, at the EU level, there is a proliferation of policy initiatives regarding local youth involvement, however academic literature on youth involvement at the local level and youth interaction with the municipal governments does not follow these policy innovations. The focus of this paper is to critically examine one policy initiative originated from the European Union, which aims to enchase local development. Namely, the paper examines Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) methodology, a tool which encompasses networking and cooperation among local-action groups in order to meet local needs and fulfill sub-regional potentials, and all that in the context of youth policy. The main research question this paper is: to what extend does the CLLD methodology support local youth development and how it contributes to local youth policy in general? The CLLD methodology will be a mandatory part of development politics, strategies and plans in the whole EU since of 2020 and, according to its proponents from the EU, is considered to be an adequate tool for supporting youth voice in local decision-making. In spite of this, is stays unknown how exactly it affects young people. What we do know is that the CLLD methodology was developed within the regional policy framework with the goal to strengthen regional development where young people are just one of groups this tool effects. Thus, it is not clear if the CLLD goals are complementary with the goals of youth policy or is the CLLD’s contribution to local youth policy just a matter of rhetoric. Youth policy as such, aims to create enabling environment for youth participation and inclusion in society and politics thus it requires carefully designed and planned activities in order to meet these requirements. Due to scarce academic literature on the CLLD methodology, at this point we do not have a clear picture if it will enchase local youth involvement and if so, in what way. Based on the research conducted at the local level in Croatia where the CLLD methodology was experimentally used for the purpose of assessing its impact on young people, this paper offers theoretical and empirical contribution to the literature on local youth policy and the CLLD methodology.

CLLD methodology, youth policy, youth engagement, Croatia, local youth policy

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