Jordanian youth, as the country’s demographic majority, hold great potential to drive meaningful social change. They bring energy, creativity, and a strong awareness of community challenges, actively engaging in civic and social initiatives through grassroots organizing, digital activism, and participation in civil society, highlighting their vital role in shaping the future. However, despite representing a significant portion of the population, young people in Jordan remain largely disengaged from collective action and formal decision-making. Their involvement in civic and social initiatives is often individualistic, lacking the structured unity needed for lasting impact. Additionally, most youth show disinterest and distrust in politics, with voter turnout among young people significantly lower than that of older citizens, and their representation in state institutions is minimal, with a 42% gap in parliamentary representation.
The brief is an output of the Youth Civic and Political Participation Policy Labs, conducted by the Arab Renaissance and Democracy (ARDD) as part of the New Generation Program. It highlights the session titled “Empowering the Future: Jordanian Youth’s Role in Driving Meaningful Change,” and what political science and law students from the University of Jordan discussed regarding this matter. Following the labs’ work methodology, the session featured Dr. Mohammad Jreibi, Director of the Thuraya Center for Studies.
