ABSTRACT
The present study aims to investigate the dynamics of youth engagement and political participation within Balochistan, one of the most complex and volatile social and political terrains. Comprehensively, the project utilizes a mixed-methods approach; including surveys, and interviews, to identify the levels political awareness, engagement, and factors of constraints relevant to young respondents involved therein. As the findings suggest, a considerable number of youth are “politically astute” or exhibit high interest in political affairs; the number of young girls and boys engaged in formal political activities is very low relatively to other fields. The scarcity of young political agents is explained by numerous challenging socio-economic, educational and security conditions prevailing within the province. Concurrently, the increasing role of digital activism lingers in Malala Yousafzai’s story; the underlying processes driven by digital platforms might create alternative channels for political participation and identification. This research has profound implications for policymakers or practitioners, implying their necessity in establishing new, inclusive policies targeting structural and instrumental factors limiting youth participation in Balochistan. Thus, inclusive tech-supported strategies are needed to empower young actors in Balochistan’s political process. The present work also highlights the prospective of young agents within conflict-ridden provinces and the instrumental role of new generation in emerging democracies.
