Algerian youth and the political struggle for dignity: evolution, trends and new forms of mobilisation

Abstract

Since the popular protests of 2011, young people in Middle Eastern and North African societies have been at the core of a plethora of research and studies. Eight years later, in early 2019, Algerian youth-led protests again surprised the world, highlighting the need to better understand the social and political commitments of young people in fast changing societies. Traditional forms of mobilisation and mediation with state authorities such as political parties, trade unions and civil society organisations seem to be losing ground with regard to channelling youth anger and frustration, and new independent forms of mobilisation have emerged, sometimes ephemerally. Young Algerians are no exception. The path they have taken to challenge the established order explores new methods and contents. The traditional commitment to civil society organisations and trade unions is not as appealing as it used to be and organisations created in the 1990s have found it difficult to make the handover to the next generation. The human and women’s rights organisations, trade unions and other civil society organisations that once led the struggle for democracy and human rights are no longer able to attract the young generation. The purpose of the paper is twofold: it provides an analysis of why young people are turning away from traditional forms of engagement related to the defence of human rights, whether political, economic and social or gender rights; and it examines the new paths and trends determining Algerian youth engagement in the context of the broader human rights agenda.