Nearly two years since Stormont collapsed, Northern Ireland’s political parties’ negotiating and media lines are so well rehearsed that handpicked members of the public could probably act out the press conferences for them.

The absence of the Assembly is one thing – passing legislation hasn’t been its strongest point. What the parties have, or, more specifically, haven’t done with the extra time they’ve had since 2016 is the real farce of this political impasse. What moves they’ve made to entice new people into politics or encourage their membership to contribute constructively to this place, beyond handing out leaflets, is anyone’s guess.

Where is the self-reflection, the party think-ins? Where are the major – even minor, any – internal policy debates amongst the memberships, serious policy papers and recommendations from youth wings? Why are young politicos rehearsing the same debates as the generation(s) before them? Last week’s debate at Ulster University Students’ Union over whether to erect Irish language signage epitomises the situation young people in politics find themselves in. Their counterparts on ‘the hill’ haven’t exactly inspired them to do things differently. If social media is anything to go by, even to join a party implies one should give up all ability to think for oneself.

To question is to dissent, but this submissiveness among party members can be burdensome for leaders too. Take the DUP’s refusal to sign up to an Irish language act during recent Stormont talks, opposed by followers frightful of the cultural armageddon they’d been warned of and sworn protection from. Remarkably, former First Minister Peter Robinson said last week he “couldn’t care less” about the Irish language now – let them speak Irish till they’re “green, white and orange in the face.” In NI politics speaking out is often a privilege of the retired.

It’s not the power-sharing institutions which have failed us. It’s the nonsense rhetoric and decision-dodging; perceptions of cronyism surrounding party appointments and policy making, of drafting hymn-sheet-singing candidates who’d prefer smooth promotion to having to think independently. Cliques, incompetence and scandal have, frankly, knackered our party and wider political system.

On Northern Slant, our Northern Roots series of interviews with readers originally from Northern Ireland but now living elsewhere reveals a pervasive sense of optimism in the potential of the people rather than particular political parties to change things for the better. The prospect of returning home is highly conditional upon issues around diversity and acceptance of difference, women’s rights, infrastructure, and employment opportunities.

Increasingly this trend of seeing more potential in allying with civic society organisations than joining parties is reflected amongst young people who’ve chosen to stay in NI. Take, for instance, the lobbying by businesses and LGBT+ organisations in favour of same-sex marriage; Amnesty International and other groups’ movement for abortion law reform; widespread endorsements for, and events in support of, the Integrated Education Fund at home and elsewhere; and, in light of Brexit negotiations, from NI to Brussels, the Derry Girls Against Borders campaign.

Naturally young people can and want to make a difference. Are parties matching their ambition? For most young people interested in politics, there is little incentive to join a party to rehash media lines and ‘wait one’s turn’. For the sake of their own future as well as Northern Ireland’s, parties must encourage young people to think for themselves.

Also published on Medium.