The Future of Libyan Youth: Navigating Obstacles with Hope

The future of young people in Libya is a matter of concern. A recent analysis by Libyan researcher Asma Khalifa has revealed interesting findings about their aspirations, values, and concerns. While there are certainly significant challenges facing Libyan youth, there are also reasons for optimism.

The analysis is based on the results of a survey carried out in autumn 2021 interviewing 1,000 young Libyans aged between 16 and 30, with equal representation of men and women. This survey is part of the regional FES MENA Youth Study which covers a total of twelve countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

According to the analysis by Asma Khalifa, one of the biggest challenges facing young people in Libya is the economy. Unemployment rates are high, and many young people are forced to take unregulated and underpaid work. This makes them vulnerable to exploitation and further exacerbates their economic woes. It is essential that the Libyan government takes steps to create jobs and improve the overall economic situation.

Another issue of concern for Libyan youth is the political impasse that the country currently finds itself in. The survey showed that young people are anxious about how this impasse might impact the conflict and the economic crisis. However, despite the fact that these issues are intricately connected to politics, many young people are disinterested in political life. This does not bode well for the upcoming elections and youth participation.

The family remains a significant factor in the lives of young people in Libya. Creating a family and being able to provide it with security and stability remains one of the highest aspirations of Libyan youth. However, the results show that young people see family relations as valuable but have yet to work out how the new values of individualism they have inevitably adopted can be part of that. Mothers and fathers are not equal in any aspect of life, despite the increasing role women are playing in both the private and public space, another issue that needs to be addressed is the support infrastructure for women. The systematic discrimination against women in Libya ensures that there is no support infrastructure, which forces women to be reliant on their families and more specifically on male family members. This needs to change to provide women with more support and autonomy in their lives.

On a positive note, the survey also highlighted that young people in Libya are aware of and would like to be involved in actions on issues of climate change and the environment. They want to make conscious personal choices that increase awareness and limit the damage. This is an encouraging sign, given the mounting climate problems that the world is facing. However, the actions of Libyan elites, who continue to make economic plans based on oil and gas with no regard to the mounting climate problems, will need to change to make a real difference in tackling climate change.

Despite the many challenges facing Libyan youth, the researcher points out that there are reasons for optimism. The survey showed that young people in Libya are optimistic about the future, especially for their own future and that of society. This is a commendable attitude, given the many obstacles that they face. However, much needs to be done to address their concerns and aspirations, including resolving the issue of trust, increasing the accountability of politicians, and creating support infrastructure for women.

One of the most pressing issues that needs to be addressed following the analysis of the survey results is the issue of trust. Young people see engagement as ineffective and pointless unless there are ways of enforcing the results. The continuation of impunity in Libya and the sidelining of core issues of justice and reconciliation is having a dire impact on the younger population, which might as a result become even more disengaged. To address this issue, the Libyan government needs to take steps to increase the accountability of politicians in positions of power and develop an electoral law that is sensitive to conflict.

In conclusion, while there are certainly significant challenges facing young people in Libya, there are also reasons for optimism. The survey has painted a detailed picture of the world and lives of young people in Libya, full of contradictions and discrepancies. However, despite these challenges, young people in Libya remain optimistic about the future. This optimism should be encouraged and supported by the Libyan government, which needs to take steps to address their concerns and aspirations. By resolving the issue of trust, increasing accountability, and creating support infrastructure for women, Libya can provide a brighter future for its young people and the entire society.

To read the full study on youth in Libya and to know more about the FES MENA Youth study: https://mena.fes.de/topics/fes-mena-youth-study