Youth, Education and Peacebuilding

Abstract

The paper begins by highlighting different definitions of ‘youth’, before identifying four reasons why it is important to prioritize youth analysis in any conflict setting. The third section introduces a number of concepts and definitions related to conflict and peacebuilding, including the important distinction between conflict sensitivity and peacebuilding. The fourth section identifies a number of theories that have examined linkages between youth, education, and conflict. The final section suggests three critical questions for policymakers in an attempt to stimulate discussion and debate about the extent to which youth programming can promote peacebuilding through social, economic, and political change.