Politicians and pundits have been calling young people working as political staffers ” The kids in Short Pants” for years. This is a derogatory term that refers to their perceived youth and inexperience. A former Stephen Harper adviser coined it.
The work of political staffers is often undervalued and overlooked by politicians and voters.
When we contact a political figure, we are greeted by these young people. Staffers in the political field answer phones, reply to emails and plan community events. Political staffers are often the link between voters and the elected officials that we select.
In the halls and offices of power, staffers provide political advice, support, and guidance to politicians in communication, policy, administration, and parliamentary matters. Political staffers have a great deal of influence, whether they are for good or for bad.
Self-interest or civic responsibility?
Who are these people, and why would they want this job in the first place? Are these young, intelligent people motivated by self-interest, careerism, and personal gain, or does altruism drive them? Are they motivated by altruism and civic duty, or are they dedicated to serving the public good? What causes the short-pants kids?
We should also be concerned about what motivates politicians to run for office.
You can answer these questions by surveying university students studying political science who are interested in becoming political staffers.
There are a number of career options for political science majors. You can choose to pursue a professional degree in law or public affairs or work in the private industry in public relations and government affairs.
Some choose to work as political staffers despite the fact that they offer fewer benefits materially and have much lower job security. Why do this job?
Cape Breton University Students walk on campus in 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Steve Wadden
Students’ polling
To find out, we surveyed 252 students in a course on political science at the University of Toronto.
Students were asked if they wanted to pursue a career in politics and why they might or might not do so after graduation. We classified students based on whether they were interested in becoming political assistants.
Most students who don’t want to be involved in politics say that their interests are better served somewhere else. Others believed politics was a foolish errand or was too flawed to help the public. Some students are not interested in politics because of power dynamics, public scrutiny, or the required expertise.
Students who express a desire to work as a political assistant are often self-interested. They may have a passion for politics or a career in general, but they do not mention helping others or their community.
Students who were public-interested had a strong desire to represent groups that were underrepresented and tackle social issues.
Public service
Our analysis shows that students who are interested in working as political staffers have a strong desire to contribute to the public good.
Many of these students expressed an interest in improving their communities and Canada as a whole. One student aptly described the shared vision of the group: “I would like to help people, and continue the transformation of humanity into a better future.”
Some young people want to make a positive impact on Canadian politics. “I’d like to be part the next generation.” said one.
