Governance and Youth in Africa: Assessing Service Delivery, Unemployment and Sustainable Development for the 21st Century Limited levels of service delivery have caused waves of protests in North African countries leading to internal, and externally influenced regime changes. South Africa is an interesting case as the country holds the record for the highest number of protests in the world. In the 2004-5 financial year, the Freedom of Expression Institute recorded 6,000 protests, many of which turned violent with criminals elements manifesting. Youth unemployment and underemployment is increasingly recognized as a trigger for social instability. In Sub-Saharan Africa about 60% of the unemployed are youth, with a worrying number of these being college graduates. When discontent over the perceived lack of government delivery is harnessed through technological means and social networks, African governments have reason to be concerned.

Thus we call for Abstracts from Young Graduates and Scholars (aged 18-35) from across disciplines. The AYGS Research Committee will review and select abstracts for paper submissions, presentations at the conference and eventual publication. Contributors are encouraged to submit case studies, comparative studies, longitudinal studies, studies focusing on Africa as a whole or on a local context, as well as theoretical papers.

Abstracts should be sent to JMkhabela@ai.org.za by November 30, 2011.

Please also see AISA’s website for further information - http://www.ai.org.za/home/aisa-young-graduates-scholars-2012-call-for-abstracts