Prominent psychologist and political commentator Professor David Stevens said young Australians must take the lead in shaping a political democracy that truly reflects their values, priorities, and aspirations.
In the wake of the 2025 federal election, Professor Stevens expressed concern about the lack of political engagement among younger voters.
“It was disheartening to see how little interest young Australians showed in the election,” he said.
“A significant portion didn’t even know who the leading candidates were — let alone understand their policies.”
According to Professor Stevens, the political landscape has increasingly become a personality contest rather than a forum for thoughtful policy debate.
“Politics today resembles sport. People pick a party and support it no matter what. It’s tribal loyalty over critical thinking. But democracy is not a game. It should be about assessing policies on their individual merits, not blindly supporting a party line.”
He said that younger Australians are not apathetic; they are simply uninspired by a political system that feels outdated and unrepresentative.
“Young people care deeply about the big issues: climate change, economic justice, sustainability, and social equity. But the current system doesn’t offer meaningful avenues for them to engage, contribute, or be heard,” Professor Stevens said.
For the first time, Millennials and Gen Z outnumber older generations at the ballot box – a demographic shift Professor Stevens says should spark urgent reform.
“What we have now might still be a functioning democracy, but it’s no longer enough. It’s time to reimagine what democracy can be. We can do better — and we must.”
Looking to the future, Professor Stevens envisions a post-partisan political model where decision-making could be handled by smaller, representative groups, similar to juries, who vote on individual policies, rather than party platforms.
“In such a system, there would be no political parties, no heads of state, no elections in the traditional sense. Instead, policies would be assessed and voted on by small committees of those most affected.”
According to Professor Stevens, Australia is well-positioned to lead such change.
“We were the first nation to give women the right to vote and stand for federal parliament in 1902. That pioneering spirit still lives within us. It’s time to lead again — this time, toward a new form of democratic engagement.”
To support this vision, Professor Stevens is calling for the establishment of a non-partisan think tank focused on democratic innovation and civic renewal. A new website, (One World League – Join the Revolution) has been launched to spearhead what he describes as a “democracy renaissance,” with the ultimate goal of creating the world’s first cyber-democracy.
“It’s time to move beyond the tribalism of traditional politics. Let’s focus on bold ideas – no matter where they come from – and build a more inclusive, responsive, and future-ready democracy.”
Professor David Stevens, based at the University of Notre Dame, Australia, has spent over 25 years exploring the intersection of human behaviour and politics. His recent fiction book, The Compleat OWL, serves as a reflective time capsule of democracy between 1950 and 2050.
At the heart of his work is a commitment to long-term peace and cooperation through cross-cultural dialogue, education, and community action. Dr Stevens continues to encourage individuals and institutions alike to build a future rooted in shared values and collaborative problem-solving.
About Prof. Dr David Stevens
Reg. psychologist, clinician, counsellor, lecturer, author, facilitator.
Adjunct Clinical Professor, University of Notre Dame Australia
Prof. Dr Stevens’ experience base is unique and extensive. He has worked globally as an educational psychologist, organisational/corporate psychologist, and clinician/behavioural psychologist, giving him a fine appreciation of the subtleties of different types of psychology and skill in matching them to clients’ specific needs.
As a corporate psychologist, Dr Stevens’s role covered all facets of decision making on complex commercial situations on a global basis. His challenge was to turn individual adversity into prosperity and personal equanimity.