Can the Youth Bulge Pose a Challenge for Turkey? A Comparative Analysis Based on MENA Region-Driven Factors

Abstract

One common characteristic of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries that have experienced internal conflicts in recent decades is their large youth cohorts, known as the youth bulge. As Turkey also has a youthful population, it raises the question of whether this will represent a threat rather than an opportunity for the society. This study investigates this question by identifying the major factors that can transform a youth bulge into a threat and analyses them comparatively for the specific case of Turkish youth. A novel set of factors is proposed that can be also used by further studies. The discussion related to these factors is organized under four major situations, namely (a) economic situation, (b) educational situation, (c) political situation and (d) cultural situation. The study concludes that while Turkey differs from most of the MENA region countries in terms of these structural factors, it tends to lag behind the average international standards, which leave young people in Turkey in a limbo between becoming an opportunity for the future of society or a challenge.