The Dispossessed Generation: Youth in the Middle East and North Africa

The widespread Arab uprisings of theearly 2010s were followed by authoritarian backlash, economic collapse and foodand energy insecurity. The hopes of millions in the regionwere shattered for the development of moredemocratic structures and better living conditions. The Dispossessed Generation provides invaluable insights into theself-perceptions and life chances of young people in the Middle East and NorthAfrica. It offers an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of a survey of 12,000sixteen- to thirty- year-olds, from Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen. While an entire generation has been further disenfranchised, this volume nevertheless illuminates the extent to which many young people inthe region are engaged with their societies, determined to mine newopportunities from a multiplicity of crises. The Arab uprisings of the early 2010s, whichraised many hopes, were followed by setbacks: authoritarian backlashes, economic collapses, accelerated climate change, the Corona pandemic and finallythe Ukraine war with its impact on food and energy security. After efforts tocreate more democratic structures failed to sustainably improve livingconditions and an entire generation of young people was further disenfranchisedand dispossessed by the crises, disappointment and helplessness now prevail.Nevertheless, as this study also shows, some groups are energetically engagedin society and are optimistic that the severe crises will also open up newopportunities.