What Keeps a Society Together?

 

What Keeps a Society Together?

By Yngborth Saltos

Many young people believe that voting and laws only become important once you turn eighteen. However, the truth is that decisions made by adults affect us long before we reach voting age. We experience the consequences of those choices in our schools, communities, and future opportunities. Even if we cannot vote yet, paying attention to what is happening around us helps us understand the society we will eventually help shape.

For a society to function well, people need a sense of purpose. Not just personal goals such as success or financial stability, but a purpose that encourages them to think beyond themselves. When individuals care about what happens in their communities, society tends to function more effectively. If everyone focused solely on their own lives, many important issues would go unnoticed and unresolved. Young people, in particular, often notice problems from perspectives that others may overlook, and those perspectives can be valuable.

Psychology offers insight into this idea as well. Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl argued that people experience greater fulfillment when they find meaning in their lives, especially when that meaning involves contributing to others or working toward something larger than themselves. His ideas suggest that fulfillment is not necessarily linked to success or perfection but rather to purpose. This connects closely to civic engagement. When young people stay informed, discuss important issues, or participate in their communities, they are not only helping society but also developing their own sense of direction and responsibility.

Another interesting perspective comes from an experiment commonly known as "Rat Utopia," conducted by researcher John B. Calhoun. In the experiment, rats were placed in an environment where all of their physical needs were met. They had access to food, water, and safety without having to struggle for survival. Initially, the environment appeared ideal. However, over time, social structures began to deteriorate. The rats became less engaged with one another, abandoned social roles, and eventually experienced population decline.

While human societies are far more complex than animal experiments, the study raises an important question: are material needs alone enough to sustain a healthy society? Calhoun's findings suggest that structure, responsibility, and social engagement also play important roles. A society cannot remain strong if people become entirely disconnected from one another or from the communities they belong to.

Voting is one of the clearest ways people participate in shaping society. It influences decisions about education, public services, leadership, and public policy. Even before we reach voting age, we can still engage by staying informed, asking questions, and discussing current issues. Civic engagement is not about pretending to have all the answers or all the power. It is about refusing to remain disconnected from decisions that already affect our lives.

Choosing not to participate also has consequences. When people disengage, their influence over public decisions becomes smaller, while those who remain active gain a greater role in shaping outcomes. This does not mean that one individual controls society, but it does demonstrate that participation matters.

At the same time, meaningful participation should always be voluntary. Civic engagement is most effective when people choose to become involved because they understand its importance, not because they are forced to do so.

From my own experience representing my academic program and communicating with others, I have seen how awareness can encourage participation. It was not a major political movement or a groundbreaking achievement, but it showed me that people often become more involved when they simply have access to information and opportunities to engage.

This raises an important question about the future. If people gradually stop paying attention to public issues, what happens to the institutions and systems we depend on? On the other hand, what could change if more individuals chose to stay informed and participate, even in small ways?

Society is not a fixed structure. It is shaped by the choices people make every day.

Ultimately, youth involvement is not only about preparing for the future—it is about contributing to the present. Staying informed and engaged does not need to be dramatic or revolutionary. Sometimes, it simply means refusing to be completely disconnected from the issues, decisions, and systems that influence our lives.

A strong society is not held together by laws alone. It is held together by people who care enough to participate in it.