Five years after the start of the Tishreen movement, the current absence of a mass protest movement in Iraq should not be interpreted as a sign that young people have become less ambitious, or that they are more accepting of the status quo. There has been a strategic shift in many young Iraqis’ approach to activism and civic engagement since 2019, as a response to the high risks of more direct political confrontation.
Drawing on a set of interviews with young people across Iraq, this paper presents case studies that explore the experiences of a new generation of political and civil society actors and entrepreneurs who are working to bring about constructive change within their communities.
The case studies also illustrate the systemic challenges faced by young Iraqis in their efforts to challenge existing structures and norms, and drive incremental reform.
Often over the last two decades, national and international policy responses and programmes, aimed at youth engagement and technical capacity-building, have overlooked the potential of young people to be proactive partners who can lead initiatives and influence systemic change.
The paper offers a set of recommendations for how reform-minded officials within Iraq, along with international stakeholders, can help foster an environment in which young people can work together to bring about lasting change in Iraq. These emphasize refocusing capacity-building programmes to promote cross-sector collaboration; forging international partnerships to make more effective use of youth-focused initiatives and resources; building connections between youth activists and reformist officials; and guaranteeing the independence and accountability of forums such as the new Supreme Youth Council.
An Arabic translation of the paper is also available as a PDF via this link.
