MESOP : THE PLAIN TRUTH ON YOUTH IN MIDDLE EAST !

“Youth voices: The missing link in Middle East politics” (Saad Aldouri, Middle East Eye)

“Lack of jobs and opportunities for youth in the Arab world was revealed in the 2016 Arab Youth Survey as one of the key drivers for recruitment to the Islamic State. As Hassan Hassan puts it in his article for the Arab Youth Survey, extremist groups do not simply materialise from thin air. They capitalise upon political, social, economic and religious failures that must be addressed at their roots. The marginalisation of young people is at the very top of this list of failures. While this phenomenon is nothing new in the Arab world, it has been exacerbated by the increasing centralisation of political power in the region and by the increasing dominance of security in national policy agendas — despite the obvious link between insecurity and youth marginalisation.

The few attempts to mobilise young people have been top-down and driven by established elites who are increasingly seen as out of touch with the aspirations of youth. Despite all this, young people continue to self-organise and engage in community activities and debate on key national issues.” Read more : http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/youth-voices-missing-link-middle-east-politics-1849281809?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20Campaign&utm_term=*Mideast%20Brief