Youth Political Participation and Prospects for Democratic Reform in Iraqi Kurdistan
Youth Political Participation and Prospects for Democratic Reform in Iraqi Kurdistan

Author(s): Munir H. Mohammad
Subject(s): Civil Society, Governance, Government/Political systems
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: Youth Political Participation; Democratic Reform; Iraqi Kurdistan; Kurdistan; Kurdistan Regional Government; political; parliament; political parties; civil society groups; informal politics;
Summary/Abstract: Since the establishment of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in 1991, political participation among youth has generally been an unseparated reality in the region’s political space. In the last three decades, Kurdish youth in the KRG have participated in three main activities: voting in local and national elections; participating in decision making institutions such as parliament, political parties, and civil society groups; and participating in informal politics such as demonstrations and protests. Despite youth participation in these three types of political activities, democratic reform in Iraqi Kurdistan (IK) remains weak and largely unsuccessful. Presently, the KRG faces serious challenges in consolidating its nascent democracy. This chapter asks why Kurdish youth participation has had limited impact in producing democratic reform and consolidating democracy in IK. It addresses this issue and aims to assess democratic reform in the Kurdistan region in regard to youth political participation. More specifically, it attempts to shed light on the current political situation of youth in IK, with a particular focus on their formal and informal participation in politics and the implications of their participation for democratic reform in Iraqi Kurdistan.

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