Youth in Iraq: The Nature and Characteristics of The Role and Function Within the Concept of Human Development

Abstract

There is a growing awareness of youth issues by various levels of decision-making and politics in Iraq. This realization implies knowing the importance and gravity of the role that this "social group" can play (negatively or positively) if the appropriate opportunities and environment are available for them, or (on the contrary) if the challenges and problems that prevent them from exercising this role become more severe. Despite the increase in interest in youth issues after 2003, projects to empower and integrate youth, and give them the required place in the development process (including the priorities, plans and strategies it contains), have always collided with obstacles of violence, political instability and societal division. These transformations have necessarily led to the fragmentation of young people themselves as a (social group), and most of them have turned into part of the mechanisms of conflict in the large society, in which they gradually lost their independence in it, and with it their ability to participate actively in changing it in their favor.