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In Lebanon, the Friedrich‑Ebert‑Stiftung’s youth study from 2022 shows that the personal economic situation of young people has been dramatically eroded by the country’s successive financial and liquidity crises. Hyper‑inflation has left them unable to save, and the everyday reality of soaring prices dominates their concerns. At the same time, interest in formal politics is very low. When asked what the word “politics” means to them, the overwhelming majority immediately associate it with corruption and view it as synonymous with “problems.” This negative perception explains why most civic participation reported by Lebanese youth is spontaneous, non‑institutional, and individual—they prefer ad‑hoc volunteer activities initiated on their own rather than involvement in organized, institutional frameworks.
The study therefore highlights a paradox: despite harsh economic conditions and a deep mistrust of the political class, young Lebanese people still seek ways to contribute to society, but they do so outside traditional party or NGO structures. Their civic engagement is characterised by informal, unsystematic efforts that reflect both a desire to make a difference and a reluctance to align with institutions they deem corrupt or ineffective. This nuanced picture underscores the need for policies that can both stabilize the economy and create trustworthy, youth‑friendly channels for organized participation.