Coping with Uncertainty: Youth in the Middle East and North Africa

In the wake of the Arab Spring, political and societal transformation processes emerged in many countries in the region. Politically and economically marginalized, young people, who are not taken seriously by political decision-makers, played a central role in these developments. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung conducted a large-scale representative survey of youths and young adults in eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa to assess the situation of youth in the region today. Encompassing around 9,000 young people from Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia, the results offer fascinating insights into their attitudes to life, self-image and perceptions of the future.

The study has i.e. revealed that young people face enormous economic problems and scant scope for upward mobility. Two-thirds of young people work only on a temporary basis or not at all, and almost half of those in work are in insecure employment. Due to their precarious situation, the young people in question are often torn between temporarily considering emigration and their profound ties with their home countries and families.

On the occasion of the publication of the English edition of the youth study, we cordially invite you to our book launch and discussion followed by a light lunch.

Contact: Marco.Schwarz(at)fes-europe.eu