The Arab Generation Z

Abstract

This chapter explores the impact of the rise of a new generation of Arabs, known as the Arab Generation Z, on Arab politics and society. Born between 1997 and 2012, the political consciousness of the Arab Generation Z has been shaped by the turbulent events of the Arab uprisings and their aftermath. Multiple surveys have indicated that this generational cohort, much like its global counterpart, is distrustful of established values and elites, and of dominant political, social, and religious institutions. It is also more accepting of the values of freedom, equality and diversity compared to older generations of Arabs. Furthermore, Arab Generation Z has low levels of trust in government, little interest in politics, and low levels of participation in elections, and in formal political institutions. Unlike the Arab Generation Y or millennials, the Arab Generation Z appears much more pragmatic, and issue-focused. It seems to have renounced plans for radical change, and its activism focuses primarily on advancing more immediate social and economic goals. Globally and regionally, this generation has developed new forms of political engagement and mobilization centered primarily around new social media campaigns and issue-specific social change. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the emergence of the Arab Generation Z as a new political actor in the Arab World, to situate this generation within the broader context of the global generation Z, to highlight the values and preferences of this generation, to describe how they engage with politics and political participation, and finally to reflect on the implications of this generational change on the future of Arab politics.