Youth Struggles: From the Arab Spring to Black Lives Matter & Beyond. (13th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Honwana, Alcinda Manuel
• Is Part Of: African studies review. Volume 62:Number 1(2019)
• Page Start: 8
• Page End: 21
• Publication Date: 2019-03-13
• Subjects: Youth, -- transitions to adulthood, -- youth politics, -- collective mobilizations, -- civil rights social movements, -- social change; African philology -- Periodicals; Africa -- Periodicals; 960.05
• DOI: 10.1017/asr.2018.144
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-0206

Abstract

Abstract: The majority of young people in Africa are today living in "waithood, " a prolonged, difficult, and dynamic transition into adult life. This experience is shared with an increasing number of young people in the developed North who are also grappling with issues of joblessness and political exclusion. This waithood generation is increasingly losing faith in the ability of its leaders to address young people's needs and expectations, and it is rebelling against the status quo. From the youth uprisings that led to the Arab Spring and the ousting of Abdoulaye Wade in Senegal and Campaore in Burkina Faso, to political protest movements such as Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter in the U.S. and Los Indignados in Spain, young people have been at the forefront of political change. However, they have not yet been able to effect systemic change. While profound social transformation takes time, this generation is still wrestling with how to move beyond street protest and have a lasting impact on politics and governance. Résumée: La majorité des jeunes en Afrique vivent aujourd'hui dans une situation d'attente, que j'appelle waithood, une transition prolongée, difficile et dynamique vers la vie adulte. Cette expérience est partagée avec un nombre croissant de jeunes du Nord développé qui sont également aux prises avec les mêmes problèmes de chômage et d'exclusion politique. Cette génération perd de plus en plus confiance dans la capacité de ses dirigeants à répondre à leurs attentes et leurs besoins et elle se rebelle contre le statu quo . Des soulèvements de jeunes qui ont conduit au printemps arabe et l'éviction d'Abdoulaye Wade au Sénégal et de Campaore au Burkina Faso à des mouvements de protestation politique tels que Occupy Wall Street et Black Lives Matter aux États-Unis, et Los Indignados en Espagne, des jeunes ont été à l'avant-garde du changement politique. Cependant, ils n'ont pas été en mesure d'effectuer un changement systémique. Alors que la profonde transformation sociale prend du temps, cette génération est encore en train de se débattre sur la façon de dépasser la protestation de la rue et d'avoir un impact sur la politique et la gouvernance. Resumo: A maioria dos jovens em África vive hoje em "waithood", uma transição prolongada, difícil e dinâmica para a vida adulta. Esta experiência dos jovens Africanos é compartilhada com um número crescente de jovens no Norte Global que também enfrentam as mesmas questões de desemprego e exclusão política e social. Esta geração waithood perdeu fé na capacidade de seus líderes de atender às suas necessidades e aspirações e vem-se rebelando contra o status quo. Desde as revoltas de jovens que levaram à Primavera Árabe, à expulsão de Abdoulaye Wade no Senegal e de Compaoré em Burkina Faso, e aos movimentos de protesto político, como Occupy Wall Street e Black Lives Matter nos EUA, e Los Indignados na Espanha, os jovens tem estado na vanguarda da mudança política. No entanto, estes esforços não lhes permitiram efetuar mudanças sistêmicas. Enquanto as transformações sociais levam tempo, esta geração continua lutando e procurando formas de superar of os protestos de rua e ter um impacto na vida política e na governação.