Collaboration among and between groups of like-minded young people can amplify their efforts to overcome systemic challenges and influence constructive change, through shared insights, mutual support and synchronized activities.
The stories of Mustafa, Leyla, Sarah and Ahmed show that young Iraqis are taking the initiative and acting as forces for change in their communities. In their ‘everyday politics’, they are making small changes to their immediate networks and communities in areas of politics, entrepreneurship, women’s rights and human rights, and climate and environmental activism. Unwilling to accept the status quo, they are pushing boundaries to influence constructive change. At the same time, they are raising awareness and inspiring others to join them in building a better country.
The incremental changes initiated by young activists are making a tangible difference within their immediate communities. But, as described in the four personas’ narratives, their broader impact is constrained by systemic challenges – in the form of both red lines and red tape. Nonetheless, collaboration among groups of like-minded young people can amplify their efforts to overcome obstacles by sharing insights, offering mutual support in their respective fields and synchronizing activities.
An example of the power of collective action is the adoption, in 2023, of a social security law in Iraq, which was achieved through the efforts of civil servants working with academics, legal experts and civil society. This law is crucial in guaranteeing that individuals employed outside the public sector receive fair treatment from private employers, including fair salaries, pension benefits and employment rights comparable with those of public sector employees. Continued pressure from civil society will be essential to ensure the effective implementation of the legislation, underscoring the need for a united front in driving and sustaining change.
A further example comes from the southern governorate of Dhi Qar, where at the 2021 legislative elections a new generation of candidates associated with the Tishreen protests gained the backing of influential networks of lawyers and journalists, societal leaders, and even local civil servants. Several of these candidates went on to win major seats in the governorate: two even ranked among the 10 most-voted-for candidates nationally, together winning the support of over 75,000 voters. Support for Tishreeni candidates was especially pronounced in southern and central Iraq, amid wider voter apathy, underscoring the potential of these combined forces of change, both active and passive, in shaping Iraq’s future.
Recognizing that they face a common adversary – the deeply rooted corruption that the Tishreen uprising aimed to challenge – will encourage politically engaged young people to adopt a more coordinated approach to influencing lasting change.
If Iraq’s agents of change are able to come together and strategize effectively, their impact could be significantly amplified. Recognizing that they face a common adversary – the deeply rooted corruption that the Tishreen uprising aimed to challenge – will encourage politically engaged young people to adopt a more coordinated approach to influencing lasting change. With the right support, they can collectively drive systemic reform by working within their respective domains while forging alliances on intersecting issues. For instance, those who understand the political system might advocate for legislation that bolsters the work of entrepreneurs or fosters engagement with civil society, thereby reinforcing the collective push for change.
The demands of the Tishreen protests have not been addressed, and the country’s political elites have concentrated on demonizing the protest movement and taking steps to block similar future uprisings by – through a mix of red lines and red tape – preventing young people from organizing and progressing. With their grievances unresolved, and faced with an uncertain future, young people are exploring alternatives through their everyday politics and constructive resistance. Along with the sectors described in this paper, they are also active in areas such as cultural heritage initiatives or expressing their grievances via the arts.
Importantly, however, the young people working to secure a better future for themselves and for future generations in Iraq should not be idealized. Often, there is a tendency in policy and academic circles to focus on and admire the resilience of individuals, but the core issue lies in a system that relies on state resources to sustain itself, that resists change, and that is failing to prepare for future challenges. Simply put, the conditions being challenged by the current generation of youth activists should not exist in the first place.
