Youth and Politics in Bouteflika’s Algeria: Engagement at a Distance from ‘Politics’
Youth and Politics in Bouteflika’s Algeria: Engagement at a Distance from ‘Politics’

Author(s): Layla Baamara
Subject(s): Politics, Civil Society, Governance
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: Youth and politics; Bouteflika’s Algeria; engagement at a distance; politics;
Summary/Abstract: As mass popular mobilization emerged in Algeria on 22 February 2019, the reading of the Hirak in both the press and scholarly research were quick to describe the new movement 2019 as ‘the year of awakening of Algerian youth.’ A corollary of this common reading of ongoing events is the existence of a formerly apathetic and depoliticized youth. Prior to 22 February, journalists and observers of political life in Algeria tended to stress youth’s disinterest in politics, a discourse which was echoed in political and associational spheres. In interviews carried out as recently as 2017, for example, a 31-year-old member of a local association in the wilaya (province) of Tlemcen commented that ‘young people couldn’t care less about politics’ while the director of an association for environmental protection in the east of the country said with regret, ‘young people are not sufficiently politicized. There’s a widespread couldn’t-care-less attitude, they are resigned, it’s a pity’ (Anonymous interviews with author, 2017).

• Details
• Contents