613.8
De-Constructing Arab Youth Stereotypes: Youth Street Sociability’s and Violence in North Africa
Jose Sánchez García (JOVIS – UdL)
In the multiple generalised exclusion of young people in Arab countries the economic situation is not the main factor in this exclusion: in fact, marginalisation from social and political life is its most striking dimension. The frustration and lack of life chances produced not only by limited employment opportunities but above all by exclusion from political and civic processes dominate the lives of young people in the Arab Mediterranean countries (Silver, 2007).
In these contexts, youth in North Africa are producing a very dynamic peer groups associations. A good example is the increasing presence of many football fan associations in North Africa. For young people in these cities, becoming a supporter is a “modus vivendi”. In societies with few possibilities to construct a collective identity through other cultural artefacts, being a fan of any of these clubs or play rap, mahragan and electric chaaby is a key factor in defining a "we" in relation to adult society. All these young cultural manifestations could be a double generational gap -facing the State and parental cultures at same time- and a way to take benefit from their marginalized social position.
However, adult hegemonic discourses in Arab countries try to confront these kinds of young initiatives according to their view of their potential danger to wider society and of the representation of young people as a “problem” (Swedenburg, 2012). Accordingly, the communication will explore the behaviours and conducts related to violence (victim or perpetrator) through an analysis of the data obtained on this issue from a European Project entitled SAHWA to challenge classical theoretical perspectives in gangs to apply in youth streets association in North Africa.