When Zahran Mamdani, a young Muslim of South Asian descent, was elected as the Mayor of New York City, it was more than a political milestone, it was a celebration of universal human values. In a city where Muslims make up barely 3.6 percent of the population, Mamdani’s victory reflected a society that values character, competence, and compassion over creed, color, or ethnicity. Such moments remind us that great societies set great examples. Reclaiming Human Values in Politics, as what lesson we can learn from Zahran Mamdani and the Potential of Political Edification in Asia!

Mamdani’s election, much like Sadiq Khan’s rise as Mayor of London, shows that in mature democracies, leadership is chosen not through identity or ideology but through a shared moral vision that prioritizes humanity above all else.

In liberal democracies shaped by the enlightenment tradition, universal human values dominate public life. Here, politics is not a contest of faiths but a dialogue of ideas. A person’s religion remains private; what matters publicly is integrity, equality, and service to people. This evolution from religious to humanistic ethics is what gives strength to societies like the United States and the United Kingdom and most of the countries of European Union. It reflects the historical journey from dogma toward dignity, from ideology toward inclusion. Once moral consciousness expands to embrace all humanity, history never reverses course.

In general, Asian paradox and specifically in Pakistan’s political culture remains entangled in dynastic power, patronage, and militarization. Political parties, rather than being schools of democracy, often function as family enterprises or extensions of elite control. Leadership flows through lineage, not merit. As a result, our democracy struggles to grow roots in morality or service. Politics, instead of nurturing the collective good, becomes a means of control, a contest of personal power, rather than a commitment to human progress.

This culture breeds disillusionment among the youth, who form 64 percent of the population yet remain largely excluded from meaningful political participation. The gap between the governed and the governing continues to widen because we have neglected the most essential component of democracy.

Believing on grounded political education in universal moral values, this is where initiatives like the Konrad Adenauer School for Young Politicians (KASYP) become profoundly relevant. Established in 2010 by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung’s Regional Programme Political Dialogue Asia (KASPDA), KASYP is a two-year capacity-building programme for young political leaders from across Asia, just completed 15 successful years in this October, that trains participants from across Asia on democratic governance, communication, campaign strategy, ethics, and intra-party democracy skills essential to building responsive and transparent political systems.

But beyond training, KASYP offers something even more vital: a moral framework for leadership. It encourages young politicians to see politics not as an instrument of control but as a service to humanity, anchored in truth, justice, equality, and accountability. These are precisely the values that can counter Pakistan’s dynastic and militarized politics and reorient leadership toward empathy, integrity, and inclusion.

If Mamdani’s victory is a symbol of the practice of universal human values, then KASYP represents the process of cultivating those values. It provides a model for transforming political culture from within, through education, mentorship, and ethical leadership.

For Pakistan, this kind of political education is not optional but it is essential for democratic renewal. We cannot build a credible, accountable, and inclusive political system without nurturing leaders who understand that democracy is not just a structure of power but a culture of responsibility.

Programmes like KASYP can empower young Pakistanis, especially women, minorities, and marginalized voices to challenge inherited hierarchies and redefine leadership as service, not status. They can help reclaim the moral dimension of politics, so deeply eroded in our public life.

Zahran Mamdani’s story reminds us that even within imperfect systems, change is possible when courage, competence, and moral clarity come together. Similarly, political education rooted in universal values offers hope for societies like ours, where democracy often feels fragile and faith in leadership diminished. Pakistan’s path forward lies not in repeating the politics of the past but in reimagining leadership through ethical education, empathy, and human values. True reform will begin the day we start producing leaders who view power not as privilege, but as responsibility.

Great societies, after all, are not built by ideologies, they are built by individuals who dare to place humanity above all else. Zahran Mamdani’s victory shows what that looks like. Why Political Education Matters and this is how KASYP shows by what means we can get there.

About Samreen:

Samreen Khan is an emerging politician in the urban landscape of Karachi, Pakistan. As a specialist in Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC), she helps her political party shape narratives that redefine youth vision and engagement. A graduate of the Konrad Adenauer School for Young Politicians (KASYP), she is committed to strengthening democratic discourse, promoting inclusive and accountable leadership, and empowering young women through enhanced political literacy in Pakistan’s evolving political landscape.