Announcing Book Publication! Securitizing Youth | Young People’s Roles In The Global Peace And Security Agenda

The Youth Café is pleased to announce the official release of the book titled “Securitizing Youth: Young People’s Roles in the Global Peace and Security Agenda”. Published by Rutgers University Press and edited by the University of Georgetown’s by Marisa O. Ensor, the book gives various insights into youth and gender related involvement in peace and security issues that the world faces in the modern era.

The book also presents empirical findings on the challenges and opportunities faced by young men and women on their efforts to build more inclusive and environmentally secure societies. Since the gradual build-up of social, political, security and environmental issues in the early 2000’s, the book highlights the growing number of youth’s yearning to become changemakers in society.

Divided into 10 chapters, the book also discusses several threats that prevent youth from being actively involved in national, regional, and international policy- making decisions and points out possible solutions to issues such as gender disparities, political and ethnic subjects. 

Executive Director of The Youth Café’s Willice Onyango had the profound opportunity to contribute to the book as well. In chapter 10 of the book, titled “Digital Media as the Next Frontier for Fighting Violent Extremism among Youth?” the author discusses the link between social media and the growing role of personal, political, ethnic, religious, and violent radicalization of youth in sectarian or political groups.

The chapter notes the impact that the use of digital media has in serving as a powerful tool for both good and evil. In the era of the 21st century, majority of young people have access to digital media at their fingertips by means of their mobile phones. As such, the use of these technological tools has the ability to either make a positive impact in the way that young people influence one another, or have the power to be used to spread ideas of violent extremism and recruit followers or sympathizers.

This as a result creates a detrimental effects on society. Onyango, therefore explores the case study of the Kenyan Youth Manifesto which was developed through a collaboration between sixty-two youth organizations, and spearheaded by The Youth Café. 

In the chapter, the purpose of the manifesto is explained that the manifesto recognized that historically, youth in Kenya and across Africa have been excluded from important decision-making processes that successively hinder their political involvement.

This particular manifesto provided an online platform for youth to freely express their opinions and perspectives since, this initiative was based on the premise that in order to counter violent extremism among youth, the conditions and factors that underlie the rise of violent extremism among youth need to be understood and addressed.

Through this project, they aim to survey existing literature on whether social media acts as a vector for violent extremism and explores whether a youth-led initiative such as the Kenya Youth Manifesto would be effective in curbing the issues of violent extremism among youth in Kenya.  

In the chapter, the author makes use of evidence-based research on themes such as how governments respond to online violent radicalization of youth and explores the practices by governments to monitor online activities, limiting the freedoms of expression, targeting legitimate political activities and silencing dissenting youth voices. 

In chapter 10, the author also makes mention of how people in political power make use of, “authoritarian and repressive use as a justification to disregard human rights, arrest, jail, target, and attack youth which in turn leads to greater alienation and disaffection” rather than trying to understand and address the issues. 

The chapter similarly looks at alternative approaches in fighting against violent extremism by partnering and working with the youth, instead of against them to collectively devise strategies and find solutions. Youth already make use of innovations in social media, communication platforms and cyber technological tools, in their various engagements for peace as a result of globalization.

In his own words, Mr. Onyango concludes that “Rather than focusing on how digital media can ignite violent radicalization among marginalized and disengaged youth in Kenya, this chapter chose an alternative pathway—focusing on the potential for youth to use social media to re envision and potentially cocreate a more peaceful, secure, and just future.”

Positive reviews about the book by Marc Sommers, author of The Outcast Majority: War, Development, and Youth in Africa, mentioned how, "Today’s super-youthful world features a dispiriting irony: young people at the centre of much policy discussion usually are unable to make their own case. Fortunately, the contributors in this important book collectively contrast current policy confusions with dynamic youth on the ground. The result is a timely, foundational book. Strongly recommended." 

Melanne Verveer who is the Director of Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace & Security, and served as the former US Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues, also noted that, “Anyone interested in understanding youth as a demographic dividend will find this book fascinating. Securitizing Youth provides an excellent overview of key issues raised by the UN’s policy focus on youth that is detailed, informative and accessible.

The chapters provide keen insights into important topics ranging from youth engagement in mediating local conflicts to addressing climate change and their role in transitional justice. In the introduction of the book, editor Marisa O. Ensor highlights some information such as the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR 2025).

Bringing forth the background to this resolution also influenced the contribution and gave light context of the different chapters of the book, by looking at the formation of the Youth, Peach and Security (YPS) agenda by establishing an international framework to assist in addressing the critical role of youth in building and sustaining peace and preventing violent conflict. 

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