these concepts and delve into the complex situation of all review to article this in us to necessary seems It reality. with variance at often reference of frames on based countries Northern in analysed and read are States Arab the of order established the disrupt to continue that events the that such shores, South understandings between societies on the North and mis- also often and tensions by criss-crossed is sin Ba- Mediterranean the of ensemble geographic The South andEastMediterraneanStates. to different wholly traditions pluralist and liamentary the West, comprised of democratic States with par- from those with general, in transposed, hastily are countries Mediterranean North from analyses and concepts often, too all for transition,” “democratic society”“civil terms the Weemphasise and also will place their in society, in terms of social countries, and political force. Mediterranean South the in youth of place the define to is later, year a here, aim The 2010 and2011. and submission,” “rebellion a situation premonitory of the events of between torn youth a of talk ready al- was there and discussed widely been had time that at countries these of youth the among tension and unease great The 2009. in Commission ropean cies in Tunisiain cies poli- youth on studies two on up follows article This T During theArabSpringandemocratic The RoleofYouth asCivilSocietyActors Institut d’EtudesPolitiques, Paris Professor, Sylvie Floris of the Arab Spring Youth,those Anti-Heroes The AwakeningoftheCivilSocietyinMediterranean 2 1 www.salto-youth.net/downloads/4-17-1867/06-EuroMedJeunesse-Etude_MOROCCO.pdf? www.salto-youth.net/downloads/4-17-1871/09-EuroMedJeunesse-Etude_TUNISIA.pdf? ransitions 1 and Morocco and 2 published by the Eu- the by published repression of Bashar al-Assad’s troops. We do not do We troops. al-Assad’s Bashar of repression Syrians continue to face, in blood and tears, the fierce monarchies panicked by the oil risk of contagion in their the States. The of forces the by supported es the Bahraini population was crushed by military forc- year, that of March In confrontation. armed violent extremely after yoke Gaddafi’s Muammar from self NATOof intervention the with Libya, it- freed forces, nomic privileges. By the end of the summer of 2011, eco- immense his undermining without King the of prerogatives political the limited which constitution its of reform early an offer to quick was monarchy Moroccan The pressure. military up stepping and purchasing peace via the distribution of petrodollars by revolt at attempts the stifle to attempted ernment gov- the Algeria, In fever. revolutionary same the in rain, Libya, Syria – all of these States were caught up Yemen,period, same the In protests. lar Bah- Jordan, Mubarak, to leave, toppled by unprecedented popu- Hosni Mohammed rais, Egyptian the of turn the was weeks on end. Only a month later, on 11 February, it by the cries of “clear out!” chanted by the crowds for power in been since 7 November 1987, fled the country, driven had out who Ali, Ben Abidine el Zine police. Less than a month later, on 14 January 2011, sia, after the confiscation of his vegetable cart by the Tuni- Bouzid, Sidi of town the in himself immolated Bouazizi Mohamed young 2010, December 17 On A T without alwaysbeingabletoenjoythebread.” dough the in yeast the “put and networks social the to take the forefront at protests and revolts, who surf of these young people, who have taken and continue angle ofEvents

103 Med.2012 Dossier 104 Med.2012 Dossier suage the collapse of the political regulation of society. as- to in stepped that organisations society civil and were guilds or associations trade NGOs, many by up taken which functions, sovereign their of reduction the favoured had States these in priority security The ed theirretreat. expect- regimes “bloc”while a advance form and to its forms. It was this fear that gave youth the strength all in repression of fear with imbued were societies These spheres. health and educational social, the in responsibilities States’ of expense the at done was that up strengthening a complex, security the ening strength- to contributed had policies anti-terrorism Westerndegree September what post-11 to Recall rité aucœurdel’autoritarisme). Picard, (Elisabeth agents.” security and military its of mistrust regime’s the reveal forces forces and State militias and State and private armed police, armed forces and intelligence services, State armed and forces armed between escalation the sometimes and duplication The incomplete. mains states in which the process of institutionalisation re- and police is a common feature in many authoritarian forces armed of multiplication of phenomenon “The cases stillplay–aconsiderableroleinsociety. some in and – played coercion violent monopolising Groups soon. time any at system plebiscitary frozen re- State gimes. Nothing within portended a renewal of leaders in ground this gained progressively rity of “cartelisation” of power coupled with tighter secu- “anesthetise” sort to A uted them. paralyse even and contrib- that factors societal and economic political, experiencing a kind of “social fatigue” because of the were societies Arab these how remembering worth is it control, or know fully not do we factors mining deter- whose changes historic these of face the In Fatigue” Arab SocietiesWereExperiencing“Social West andallowingthemto“makehistory.” the by circulated often societies Arab of immobility den as they were unexpected, breaking the image of sud- as “revolutions” by altered or shattered either and Middle East countries and Gulf States has been than ten months, the less geopolitics of in Maghreb, Mashreq assessment: following the to us leads This that theregimeisdiscreditedbynow. is certain is what but war, civil a of has form the which taken conflict, this of outcome the know yet Armée et sécu- et Armée particular young people, were in a position of “sub- of position a in were people, young particular the Powerless,” that individuals of these societies, in of Power “The essay political his in does Havel clav Váas - assert, can we observations, these of light In rather condescendingattitude towardsthem. relating to Islam and economic interests and display a anxieties imperatives, security by moved are who ers, Western- by underestimated largely conflicts cieties, so- these in endure that conflicts internal the on light al relations and the organisation of society. They shed All of these factors profoundly modify intergeneration- children born per woman in the 1980s to just over two now). six from gone has rate (the Maghreb the in rate fertility in decline rapid sharp, a despite age), of years 28 of average global a to compared (as 22 reached just has population the of age average the States: and age of years 25 under is population the of 65% these in difficult policy public makes that context demographic a affairs of state this to Add at demonstrationswas “dignity” why thefirst word tobe chanted of “sub-citizens,” which explains young people, were inaposition these societies, inparticular We canassert that individualsof to aworldaverageof18%). (parliaments have only 8% women MPs as opposed underrepresentation of women in the political sphere the and rate death maternal high the mention to not literacy,overall in rise sharp the despite illiterate ally ate and more than 17% of the population is function- illiter- are 15 over those of 23% 20%, approaching absolute poverty. The (official) unemployment rate is of category the in population the of 50% nearly with and Yemen, population, the of fifth one nearly fects af- it where Egypt, as such States, some in growing areeven which levels, poverty absolute significant by characterised is period current The day. a lars dol- two than less on live people five in one gering: stag- are figures The (UNDP)? Programme opment as decades, Devel- Nations United the of reports the recent by evinced in progress little made have to planet the on area only the being States, ducing oil-pro- including area, geographic this to tributed con- have that few a of benefit the for property mon com- of misuse and power of concentration the it Is Philippe Fargues, observed 25 years ago following following ago years 25 observed Fargues, Philippe demographer, the as 1980s; late the in Islamism ical of the “bread riots” (IMF riots) and the apogee of rad- time the at than fewer are they yet population, the of quarter a nearly comprise 24-year-olds to 15 These dent ontheeveofhostilities duringaninterview. stu- Tunisian young a stated having,” nor being out to pertinent more speak of a “lack of a place” be for youth. “We are, with- would it though spontaneously out, events broke time the at societies Arab in youth of place the consider should we all, of First Downward SocialMobility “Plural” Youth, AllofThemVictims eties duringtheArabSpring. proach that we will examine the role of youth in soci- on ap- society Tahrircivil this to according is It Square. activists by wielded slogan the was religious” nor violent neither – re- civil is revolution authoritarian “Our gimes. in prevailing corruption the and lies life”to “real opposed of Václavas speaks Havel dynamic within itself rather than in the role of the State. society,civil its of find logic would that line a following the to according organised life economic and social a seeking are people young These politic. body the to opposed as social body the of expression the are who and squares and streets the to take who policy, of “professionals” considered politicians to in contrast States, the of forces active those young, the is It ety’s awakeningbutrathertheendresult.” attempt at political reform was not the cause the of soci- clear: seems however, thing, One it. attacking began and lie the within life of tissues the through spread gradually truth of virus the how and milieu given a influenced attitude genuine or act particular cult to ascertain when and by which sinuous paths a diffi- is “Todayit Powerless”cannily: the resound of Power “The in Spring Prague the on words Havel’s Although comparison doesn’t prove anything, Václav cial tiesintruthandtransparencydespiteeverything. mation of the individual and the desire to maintain so- of form a to refer first must Before discussing the organisation of civil society, we What “CivilSociety” AreWeT to be chanted atdemonstrationswas“dignity.” word first the why explains which citizens,” through the affir- the through dissent alking About? intellectuals. Then an unexpected alliance came about mobile downwardly urban, young, primarily and areas tween disadvantaged youth from both urban and rural be- contact allowed Bouazizi Mohamed of death the marily affects the middle classes, but events following pri- disappointment This charge. their in remain who children “spoiled” these resent and understand not do who parents, their and older, or 30 are they until independence financial of lack to due homes ents’ par- their “stuck”at youth, these between generated is tension intergenerational Strong housing. of price the in rise the and 2000s the of boom estate real the experienced downward social mobility, partially due to also has youth monarchies, Gulf the In market. ment to the dearth of opportunities on the national employ- and now share a sentiment of downward mobility due education higher in investment through mobility ward young graduates who had nurtured aspirations of up- One can speak of a sentiment of despair among these same percapitaincomelevel. the with countries other in as numerous as twice are graduates university unemployed young income, oil its off lives that country a Algeria, In unemployed. the of 21.1% represent youth qualified employment, mal for- lacks population the of 13.3% Whereas general. in population active the for average than rates ment unemploy- higher experience graduates young these East, Middle Carnegie by done study a to According (ANETI). Agency Work Independent and ployment Em- National the with registered already are millions dozen several while year, every market labour the on nisia again, 60,000 higher education graduates arrive tion of young university graduates? If we consider Tu- in situa- the of said youth be can What countries. Arab among many despair of sentiment the of matic sympto- is unemployed, is region the in the population of thirds two where Bouzid, Sidi in immolation Bouazizi’s Mohamed young 2010, December In eas. ar- inland in disparities geographic major with rocco, Mo- in 32% and Egypt in 30% reaching high, very ment rates for this age group (15-24 years of age) are ket’s absorption capacity, which is why the unemploy- mar- labour the for numerous too far still are Youngpeople insights. economic and social towards turn and Spring Arab the in factor a as explosion graphic We must thus partially rule out the motif of the demo- massive arrival of youth on the labour market is history. most the countries, Arab in fact, In again.” will never probably most and 20, today’s over as population the high among as proportion a comprised never has group age 20-30 “the transition, demographic

105 Med.2012 Dossier 106 Med.2012 Dossier Who sis ontheroleofyoungwomeninArabSpring. the North shore of the Mediterranean, with an empha- on media the in publicised highly features, common certain share do they Morocco, or Syria Bahrain, of Though the youth of Tunisia are not the same as those ward mobilityandexclusion. of this “plural” youth, who shared this sense of down- components various the between States Arab the in the wage labour market. A growing minority has tak on people young these of part integrating gressively schooling for girls, lowering the fertility rate and pro- generalising as such causes deeper also but heroic less for emerged often has and Spring Arab the for In fact, women’s engagement in politics did not wait the “neitherwhoresnorsubmissive” movement. tations of young Maghrebi women in France – recall or rebellious, a position widely adopted in represen- submissive either be only can she perspective, ern role of followers, as in the second case. In the West - the to men relegating Spring, Arab the in actors real only the considered are women Arab or young when case, first the in as domination, male to action re- and/or of prolongation the as seen is gagement en- political female when instance, for as avoided, be should readings reductionist Such region. the in women young of engagement political the of trayals are quite real, nevertheless remain stereotypical por- human which positions, two These world. Arab the in rights of defence the of heroines patriarchy, the bolising women’s struggles against dictatorship and sym- bloggers, female young globalisation: of ards stand- the towards youth this of shift a for hope the The former represent television. what the West fears, the on latter, appearing Fani, El Nadia as such it, of proud and religious not were who women young also were There cordon.” police a towards vance ad - to protesters urged woman young this Cairo, in January 26 On “COURAGE. caption the with don, cor- police a before alone woman, young a of photo zine on 5 February 2011, which featured a full-page in pictured one the like revolt the of head the at heroines of images also were There protests. popular during victory of attitude an with ofyoung women sporting veils and black niqabs, waving flags images were There figures. emblematic varied, showed over world the networks Television Arab Spring? Are These Young Women Involved in the Le Monde Maga- Monde Le - society. This State feminism can also be used to to used be also can feminism State This society. texts religious ( of reading liberal of a through emancipation women the declaring State” of feminism “Islamic of sort a 2004, February in VI Mohamed by the of proclamation the is their Western backers. The most emblematic example of eyes the in progress democratic of illusion an ing public the in sphere and women developed an arsenal of measures provid- promote to women’s working encouraged NGOs have They rights. women’s States have these implemented a sort of All State feminism in favour attacks. of 2001 September 11 the Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Kuwait, in of particular since regimes conservative the in as well as Mashreq, issue under authoritarian regimes in the Maghreb and feminine the of manipulation the by heightened been has societies Arab in role political their and women of place the understanding of complexity Today,the over ayearnow. for Tunisia in streets the to taking been have who “State feminism” is not enough for the young women this if even world, Arab entire the in egalitarian and liberal most the remains which 1956, in proclaimed Code Status Personal Tunisian the inspired greatly who and 1930s the since law Sharia under women of emancipation the advocating been had who ists reform- Muslim were They it. puts Labidi, Leila gist, “feminism certain in the masculine,” a expressing men of doing the rather was world Arab the in feminism of beginning very The entalist prejudicesandstereotypesabound.” Ori- world, Arab the call to customary become has it what in arises women of issue the as soon As es. fac- many with colonisation European a and Empire Ottoman moribund a of hold the from free themselves both to sought that East Near the of regions in feminism militant been have 20th could there the century, of turn the since “that Dayan-Herzbrun, Sonia states imagine,” hardly can one France, “In particular in young femalejournalists. counterparts, Western their among complacency certain a by heightened ignorance an women and of their place in the public sphere today, nomenon of progressive politicisation of young Arab phe- the of ignorance its to all above due is Bahrain move- protest Tunisia,of ments YemenSyria, Morocco, Egypt, and the in presence female strong the at posts astonishment West’s The structures. party within important or political offices or elective namely society posts, civil in responsibilities on en ) without questioning the basis of patriarchal patriarchal of basis the questioning without ijtihad) (family code) code) (family Mudawwana as the Tunisian sociolo- contrast to the youth in their parties, who have joined taneous” protest movements beyond their control, in they have shown mistrust of or aloofness from “spon- cluding youth and women from party responsibilities, organisations remains in the hands of older men, ex- political of leadership the Though beardless. young white- beards” to “old the “young black-beards” the as of well as to the opposition the with Islamism in found be can divide generational same The matter. the of complexity the account into take and caution with proceed must one again, once issue, this On States? What aboutYouth’s RelationtoIslaminArab ents’ homesandsubjecttoprolongedcelibacy. conflict issue of all of these youth “stuck” at their par- nay, This expression 2009). sums up the generational (Monte- poverty” “Malthusian a of talk even is There work. finding in difficulties major group’s this and sis cri- housing urban the model, family traditional the of erosion the with restrictive increasingly become has which pressure, social and family of themselves free to wish counterparts, male their like women, Young power-aspiration tofreedomrelation. a in rather but relation (women) dominated – (men) vancing ad- in life. We are no longer really in a dominant from women and men both prevents that chy patriar- societal and economic political, social, a as rather but domination male as conceived longer no Today, Arab feminist discourse criticises a patriarchy regimes. authoritarian by cause feminist the of manipulation this to objected always have movements Feminist Mashreq regimes intheMaghreband issue underauthoritarian manipulation ofthefeminine been heightenedby the political rolein Arab societieshas the placeofwomen andtheir The complexityofunderstanding encouraged thepopulation’s“Muslimfibre.” had King of the earlier, years “enemies few a whereas declared women,” Islamists, against struggle works of educated youth, such as Facebook played by social networks, and not only the social net- role the is revolts Arab the of characteristic Another ing astheexclusivevoiceof thepeople. have become a political actor in their own right, serv- all the Arab revolts, to the point where these squares in denominator common a been has squares public of occupation The power. in regimes and stitutions and potential in- established the towards defiance major showing protest high a with action of forms jority of these youth is the use of pacific and/or legal One of the common characteristics of the great ma- Rather Thanevolution These Young Arabs:ctorsofSubversion tionary transitions. post-revolu- in role major a play should factor This Michel Camau. to according disgrace,” leader’s “the of expression people’s young the is It parties. or movements own their of leaders the as much con- as just dictators demn they methods; authoritarian paternalist, ject re- they them, Like youth. Arab other of those to ilar the Arab Spring youth. among Young Islamist demands are sim- element common the constitutes that groups age between divide socio-political this is It the samedefinition.” term this lend necessarily not does leadership the of part democracy, think they Where hierarchy. and authority think elders their action, of freedom they think Where organisation. pyramidal think leaders their networks, think they secrecy.Where of culture the maintain Brothers transparency,the for call they Where functioning. was in involved were they tion institu- the how of questioning a as regime political their of youth was as much mobilisation a desire to overthrow the the corrupt that was initially, least at understand, not did Brotherhood Muslim the What points are all at odds with the leadership’s positions. six These phrases. catch major racy,the of rejection democ- for desire networking, of promotion youth, of recognition authoritarianism, less transparency, greater are: generation new the of demands “The world ingeneral: Arab the to applied be certainly can Brotherhood Patrick Muslim the within strife intergenerational by on Haenni statements following The elders. their with than generation their of expectations and gans slo- the with tune in more regimes, against protests and Twit-

107 Med.2012 Dossier 108 Med.2012 Dossier nated by the presidents as had previously been the the been previously had as presidents the by nated desig- not and faculty the by elected were deans the For the first time in the history of Egyptian universities, port thisobservation. be the same. Several highly significant examples sup - the rise to power of the Islamists, but nothing will ever with polls the at expressed was order to return a for of having been little understood or not at all. The need Certainly, a year later, part of this youth has the feeling What IsLeftT preferred “longlivethepeople” to “longlivetheking.” ed his ‘rights right now’ and for having declared that he demand- he which in lyrics, his for imprisoned L7a9d, rapper, Moroccan the us,’or govern to able be never will you but us, kill can ‘You slogan furious this with embellished he which hospital, military Egyptian an of walls the on Fattah Abdel Alaa by piece stencilled huge the like graffiti of role the Remember lishment. estab- religious the of power the and authorities the oppressive, in struggle against censure, the verdicts of heavy metal because our lives are heavy metal, that is, “WeLevine, to explained genre, this in Moroccan play a Zine, Reda music. lamism”metal heavy analysing by “post-Is- this of signs the identified has Levine Mark lamism, asortof“post-Islamism” (GillesKepel). Is- of secularisation of form a towards leading be to seems and ago year a since exponentially grown has youth in Arab countries have been effecting for years, “infra-politics,” which as qualified practices, of series This end. political or public apparent no with sions pas- cultural and engagement local life: everyday to relates revolts the in used approach singular Another targeted byMubarak. networks, solidarity powerful most the of one Egypt, in Brotherhood Muslim the as such networks darity des Travailleurs Tunisiens, universities UGTT), or soli- Générale (Union TunisianWorkers of Union General the like unions labour as such power, in regime the countries despite the control and pressure exerted by Arab in interaction social structured long have that networks older to parallel in exist means new These communication. of means these of uses ferentiated mobile of phone ownership is even percentage lower) and highly dif- the and connection, internet an has 10% of the population in Egypt owns a computer and than (less connections internet to access and ership ter, which depend on the population’s computer own- oday? H H M S B B M C B Bibliography youth, “the futureisonceagainopen.” to thanks Havel, Václav from phrase a row Tobor- same. the be ever will nothing nonetheless, but fierce, often is repression and elections at ed Certainly, the voice of youth has been greatly exclud- pressure from civilsociety, under ithasnowbeensetat50%. but MPs, female for 10% of quota a established had law electoral former The sembly. toral law governing the election of the Constituent As- elec- the of modification Council the announced Transitional has (NTC) National the Libya, In search. re- of freedom and religion of freedom creation, tic to its charter: freedom of expression, freedom of artis- University, freedoms four the following added just has custom. The largest Sunni university in Egypt, Al-Azhar B amir e asbous oussois assam avel aenni amau ont ’ rad chir Spring -“printempsarabe” 2011. vue Averroès, Seuil, 1991. burg, Editionsdusigne,2011. Stras- tension. sous Sociétés arabe. printemps vements No.66,Summer2011. leadership,”du crise et populaires tion Conference,Princeton,2009. Popula- International IUSSP XXVI in ceptions.”, ex- et général cas arabe, monde le dans phique démo­ transition la de dividendes “Les from 2011. tion. Paris, Editions du Cygne, Mémoires du sud, révolu- la à l’autoritarisme de musulman, arabo Ivry-sur-Seine, Editions de l’atelier, l’atelier, 2011. de Editions Ivry-sur-Seine, arabes. es 2011. Cerises, 2011. le printemps arabe. Paris, Editions le Temps des Z, CollectionEtudes,2011. cachées des révoltes. e , Amin. , Václav. , , Hatem. , nay ,

, A , Tayara. , Michel. “La disgrâce du chef, mobilisations chef, du disgrâce “La Michel. Patrick. “Islamistes et révolutionnaires,” et “Islamistes Patrick. yari , Antoine. , , Sébastien. , Yves. , , Michaël, G Le monde arabe dans la longue durée: Libéralisme et liberté dans le monde le dans liberté et Libéralisme Essais politiques. Essais Le printemps arabe décodé: faces décodé: arabe printemps Le “ No. 4-5, special issue on the Arab Démographie et politique,” paper paper politique,” et Démographie Paris, Fayard, Paris, arabe. tsunami Le Le Moyen Orient à l’aube du l’aube à Orient Moyen Le e iss Beirut, Al Bouraq Editions e r , Vincent. Paris, Editions du Editions Paris, Revue Mou- Revue Renaissanc- gra­ re-