The Arab Spring, Digital Youth and the Challenges of Education and Work

Abstract

Aided by new media and digital communication tools, youths have helped foster a democratic ethos throughout North Africa and the Middle East regions. The internet generation has a very firm grip on rights, civic liberties and democratic accountability and has well honed the art of single issue campaigns using new media. This paper argues that, for the most part, youth movements using new media platforms exhibit great adeptness at articulating a way forward for civic and political rights, and are on more shaky footing when it comes to economic rights, fair labour practices, and distributive justice. It explores possibilities for economic and democratic renewal in this context.