Institute of Political Science

"Arab Youth: From Engagement to Inclusion?"

Project description

The research project “Arab Youth: From Engagement to Inclusion?” deals with the emergence of youth initiatives and youth organizations in the course of the “Arab spring”, their relation to the state and their possible support by external actors. Through field researches the project aims to document and analyze current developments in political mobilization and participation of the younger population in Egypt and Morocco. The Arab youth and young adults were the main constituents and organizers of the mass protests last year. In addition, the project will focus on the role and influence of external actors in both countries as well as their perception among the target groups in Egypt and Morocco. By focusing on these actors, the project addresses a key question concerning the societal and political future of the Arab world.

The project is funded by Volkswagen Foundation and conducted under the joint supervision of Prof. Dr. Oliver Schlumberger, University of Tübingen, Prof. Dr. Saloua Zerhouni, Université Mohammed V in Rabat and Dr. Nadine Sika, American University in Cairo. Prof. Dr. Mustapha K. Sayyid, probably Egypt’s most renowned political scientist and lead author of UNDP’s Arab Human Development Report 2009, will assist the team as a backstopping instance. The Institute of Political Science will employ Kressen Thyen, M.A. as a research associate who will prepare a PhD-dissertation within the framework of the project. The University of Tübingen takes the administrative responsibility for the project. Overall funding amounts to approximately 200 000 € for a duration of two years. First results will be presented in public panel discussions in Tübingen and Berlin in spring 2014.

Team

University of Tübingen

Prof. Dr. Oliver Schlumberger (project supervision)

Tel.: 07071 29-78372

E-Mail: mena(at)ifp.uni-tuebingen.de

Kressen Thyen, M.A. (project coordination)

Tel.: 07071 29-72986

E-Mail: kressen.thyen(at)uni-tuebingen.de

Dorothea Stieler (project administration)

Tel.: 07071 29-72986

E-Mail: dorothea.stieler(at)ifp.uni-tuebingen.de

Ahmed Arafa (student assistant)

Tel.: 07071 29-78364

E-Mail: arabyouthspam prevention@ifp.uni-tuebingen.de

Lena Pohl (student assistant)

Tel.: 07071 29-78364

E-Mail: arabyouthspam prevention@ifp.uni-tuebingen.de

 

Université Mohammed V - Souissi

Prof. Dr. Saloua Zerhouni

Amani El Naggare, M.A.

 

American University in Cairo

Dr. Nadine Sika

Somaia Metwalli El Sayed, M.A.

03-06-2014

Academia meets politics: the final workshop in Berlin brings Tuebingen University and the Ministry of development together

The international team of the pilot project “Arab Youth: From engagement to inclusion” funded by the Volkswagen Foundation presented its results in a non-public workshop in the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Berlin on June 3.

The results from the quantitative and qualitative data analysis were discussed among the 40 participants from the German government, the German Reconstruction Credit Institute (KfW), the German Enterprise for International Cooperation (GIZ), the German Development Institute (DIE) and various political foundations as well as from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) and researchers from other universities including Bonn and Leipzig University. Also, representatives from other organizations such as the Volkswagen Foundation and the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC) took part in the lively debates. To increase openness of discussions among participants on sensitive topics the BMZ and Tuebingen University had previously agreed on not including the media.

Following opening remarks by BMZ director Bögemann-Hagedorn and Prof. Schlumberger four thematic blocs were held consisting of an input presentation each by the team members and comments by political practitioners (from the German Foreign Office, the KfW, the BMZ, and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS)). Hereafter the discussion was opened for the broader plenum. Focal points were (1) the Arab youth’s demands and expectations and their political and socio-economic prospects of participation and preferences in the aftermath of the “Arab Spring”, the (2) education and employment policy and inclusionary participation of Arab youth and their prospects of success, the (3) role of political Islam in the political mobilization of young people, and the (4) analysis of dynamic political processes from a gender perspective. The workshop was closed by concluding remarks from Dr. Breuer (DIE) who also moderated the penal discussion among the representatives of the German Foreign Office, the BMZ and the GIZ as well as the team members.

Following Chatham House Rule an open and committed discussion among the participants could unfold independent of their institutional affiliation or self-interest. Governmental representatives thereby agreed with the argument from the project’s perspective on prioritizing development oriented and accountable governance in Arab partner countries of German development cooperation. Without such serious and profound changes in those political structures no sustainable development seems achievable.

One crucial challenge to German and European actors will be to (re-)obtain credibility among the young population after having supported authoritarian regimes for decades.

 

29 to 30-04-2014

Project team met for a workshop in Tuebingen

The project team met for its preparatory workshop in Tuebingen on April 29th and 30th. Results of the quantitative and qualitative data analysis were discussed and prepared for the meeting at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Berlin on June 2 and 3.

 

10 to 13-10-2013

Panel on "Arab Youth: From Engagement to Inclusion?" at the Annual MESA Conference

 

The project team organized a panel at the Annual Conference of the Middle East Studies Association (MESA) in New Orleans from October 10 - 13, 2013. The panel focused on various empirical questions like: Who are the young generation of protestors and how have their modes of engagement changed over the past two years? How are the young incorporated into the public and political spheres? What kinds of government-led initiatives exist and are being formulated for the integration of the youth in the political process of these countries? How do these dynamics differ in both reform contexts?

The individual contributions to this panel were built on survey analysis and in-depth interviews with youth and state representatives in Egypt and Morocco.

More information on the panel are available here.

Project presentation in research colloquium of the Institute for Political Science in Tübingen

On July 10, 2013 Oliver Schlumberger and Kressen Thyen presented the research project in a research colloquium organized by the Institute of Political Science in Tübingen. The presentation gave an overview of the project design and methods, exploring possibilities and challenges in the study of current developments across the Arab World. It then presented selected results from a quantitative survey conducted among Egyptian youth, focusing on protest behavior during and after the 2011 uprisings. Particular interest was given to the profiles, motives and demands of the young protestors, as well as their perception of the state and international actors.

You can download the poster and the presentation here!

08 to 10-04-2013

Mid-term-meeting at the American University in Cairo in April 2013

 

From 8 - 10 April 2013 the project team met for a mid-term-assessment in Cairo. During the meeting, the involved researchers discussed experiences from the field, methodological issues related to data evaluation, as well as first empirical results. The meeting also allowed to issue a time schedule for the second project year, which will mainly be dedicated to data analysis and writing up of results.

 

The final project results are estimated to be presented at the University of Tübingen in April 2014.

04 to 06-10-2012

“Arab Youth”- Project team presents first results on the 19th Congress of DAVO from October 4 to 6, 2012

The project team presents research approaches and first empirical results of the research project “Arab Youth: From Engagement to Inclusion?” in a panel on the 19th Congress of the German Middle East Studies Association DAVO this year. Focusing on youth mobilization and participation, this panel aims to participate to an informed discussion and debate on youth politics in the Arab states and hereby evaluate future trajectories and prospects of the region. following questions are put into focus: What kind of formal and informal structures do youth organize in? What are their motives and political demands? How do public institutions and established decision-making circles manage the demands formulated by the young opposition? And what is the potential for international actors to support the reforming institutions to develop viable and inclusionary strategies for dealing with these demands?

26-06-2012

"The Arab spring - a revolution from and for the youth?": Kressen Thyen at panel discussion at the Technische Universität Dresden

 

On June 26, 2012 Kressen Thyen, M.A. participated at the panel discussion “The Arab Spring – a revolution from and for the youth?” at the Technische Universität Dresden. Scholars from different disciplines discussed the role of young people during the protests, as well as future chances and persisting political, legal and economic challenges. The event was organised by the UNICEF campus group in cooperation with the department for International, European and public law.

Further information (in German) can be found here.

20-06-2012

Youth after the Arab Spring: Kressen Thyen at the national meeting of the Youth Migration Board of the Stuttgart Youth Council

From June 19-20, Kressen Thyen participated at the first national meeting of the Youth Migration Board. Initiated by the Youth Council Stuttgart and funded by the European Union over a period of three years, the project aims to develop support perspectives for political, civil and economic participation of young people in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. In a public presentation, Kressen Thyen illustrated possibilities for youth participation in North Africa with a special focus on Morocco. In a following panel discussion, practitioners and scientists discussed consequences of last year's protests for future cooperation with partner organizations in the three countries.

 

 

 

22 to 25-04-2012

Launch of research project "Arab Youth: From engagement to inclusion?"

The research project “Arab Youth: From engagement to inclusion” was formally launched with a Kick-Off meeting in Rabat, Morocco, from April 22-25, 2012. The meeting was opened by Thomas Weich, cultural attaché of the German Embassy in Morocco, and Prof. Dr. Khalid Berjaoui, dean of the School of Law, Economics and Social Sciences at the University Mohammed V - Souissi. Representing the chair of Middle East and Comparative Politics Prof. Dr. Oliver Schlumberger and Kressen Thyen took part in the meeting. Topics of the discussion were current status of research concerning political mobilization of youth and young adults in Morocco and Egypt, their relation to the state and possible support by international donors. It further determined the research activities for the coming year. Additionally, further research activities for the coming year were defined. The research project is funded by the Volkswagen Foundation for a duration of two years.

 

 

 

26-06-2012

"The Arab spring - a revolution from and for the youth?": Kressen Thyen at panel discussion at the Technische Universität Dresden

 

On June 26, 2012 Kressen Thyen, M.A. participated at the panel discussion “The Arab Spring – a revolution from and for the youth?” at the Technische Universität Dresden. Scholars from different disciplines discussed the role of young people during the protests, as well as future chances and persisting political, legal and economic challenges. The event was organised by the UNICEF campus group in cooperation with the department for International, European and public law.

Further information (in German): http://www.dresden.unicef.de/9429.html

10-07-2013

Project presentation in research colloquium of the Institute of Political Science in Tübingen

On July 10, 2013 Prof. Schlumberger and Kressen Thyen presented the research project in a research colloquium organized by the Institute of Political Science in Tübingen. The presentation gave an overview of the project design and methods, exploring possibilities and challenges in the study of current developments across the Arab World. It then presented selected results from a quantitative survey conducted among Egyptian youth, focusing on protest behavior during and after the 2011 uprisings. Particular interest was given to the profiles, motives and demands of the young protestors, as well as their perception of the state and international actors.

You can download the poster and the presentation here!