Upheaval in Arab-Mediterranean Societies: Youth Participation in Politics

Literature often highlights that, post-2011 uprisings, the visibility of young people did not correspond to high political engagement but rather to their significant presence on social networks and alternative platforms. Using a representative database (SAHWA 2021), the study analyzes electoral participation, institutional and non-institutional political activities, and involvement of political and social organizations in Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia. Findings indicate that youth participation rates are generally low across both institutional and non-institutional forms of engagement, with electoral participation being the most common. Notably, countries like Tunisia and Egypt exhibit the lowest rates of participation, attributable to high individual costs and systemic repression in authoritarian regimes. Morocco and Algeria display higher participation, linked to their political structures and democratic ties. The chapter concludes that traditional measures of political participation may not fully capture the engagement of Arab youth, who might be increasingly turning to new forms of activism such as social media, art, and music. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the political dynamics involving young people in non-Western contexts, challenging existing theoretical frameworks.