In an evening session of vibrant youth participation under the title, "The Position of Youth in the Change Movement in the Arab World," Muhammad Ali al-Rihani from Morocco, Abdulrahman Murad from Jordan, and Al-Husayni al-Sagheer from Egypt discussed the challenges of the Arab Spring, the identity crisis, the culture of development, and the effect of social networking on Arab youth.
Muhammad Ali al-Rihani from Morocco discussed the idea of identity, presenting a definition based on the concept that it is one of the distinguishing factors of human existence because identity guarantees the continuity and presence of this existence, and addressing its obstacle. He indicated that identity includes constant and variable factors and is dependent on continuous change, not on fixation and stagnancy. In his speech, he explained that identity and culture are not cloned or blindly copied, stressing the need for geographic changes and characteristics. He also argued that national identity is facing various challenges, most prominently the external enemies, as well as the secondary identities that emerge and grow in light of internal conflict, thus paving the way for cultural invasion and political division.
In his conclusion, Al-Rihani stressed the need for national identity because it relies on the nation to unify all of its citizens, establish the recognition of and respect for all, enhance the culture of equality under law, promote the desire for change and work for its fulfillment, and emphasize the importance of time to achieve change.
Abdulrahman Murad focused on the culture of development, indicating that it is originally based on united national identity stemming from the culture of human rights and freedoms. He stressed that this is a constant factor and that it is important that the constants and norms not be violated. He added that if the culture of human rights and freedoms is only nurtured in a democratic environment, it is important to indicate that elections are not the sum of democracy, but a small part of it. He also maintained that democracy is a process based on individual participation and the culture of citizenship. This is where the importance of volunteerism that enhances participation and belonging comes.
At the end of the session, Al-Husayni al-Sagheer from Egypt focused on the role of modern technology and social networking in creating change as a key instrument in mobilizing people around certain ideas, affirming that the issue started in 2008 with the 6 April movement and that interaction continued despite the many difficulties that the movement faced until it reached its crescendo in the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions. The role of youth, however, surpassed these methods to where their halt would not affect the revolutions' progress because that technology and social networking had already served their purpose.
