Arab Youth

Throughout the Arab Spring, the youth of each of the nations involved - often armed only with technology and vitality - became powerful and irresistible forces for change. This collection of essays explores the mindset of the young and the avenues these activists chose to express their dissatisfaction. Oddly, the opening essay (Youth as a Social Category and as a Social Process) discusses youth characteristics as observed through a study of Australian teenagers. Its purpose is to open up a comparison with their counterparts in this region. Of particular interest later are the discourses on the hard-partying young adults of Lebanon, a subculture Samir Khalaf also explores in the forthcoming Lebanon Adrift. Balanced against changing trends and popular culture are the politics that shape these youthful perspectives. Though mostly inclined towards the editors' native Lebanon, detailed explorations of youth issues in countries such as Egypt make this an insightful study.