Youth Labor Underutilization and Civil Unrest: Evaluating Relative Deprivation Metrics in Fragile Coastal Urban Centers

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 8, No. 10, October 2017 | pp. 748–756

DOI: 10.46882/2017/GJPCS/0000105

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Youth Labor Underutilization and Civil Unrest: Evaluating Relative Deprivation Metrics in Fragile Coastal Urban Centers

Names of Authors: Ousmane Diallo¹, Grace Adebayo²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Sociology, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal; ²Department of Economics, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract: Abstract: High rates of structural youth unemployment across expanding urban centers are frequently cited as primary catalysts for civil unrest and political radicalization. This study empirically tests this relationship by examining youth labor market dynamics and subsequent protest frequencies across four sub-national coastal cities. Utilizing a cross-sectional dataset of 800 urban youths alongside regional macroeconomic performance registries from 2005 to 2016, we modeled the probability of political mobilization. The econometric findings demonstrate that long-term underemployment significantly boosts individual willingness to participate in anti-government demonstrations (R² = 0.49, p < 0.001). Further breakdown reveals that the correlation is highly accelerated among educated youth segments experiencing high levels of relative deprivation. Quantitative tracking indicates that a 5% increase in youth underemployment is associated with an average increase of 3.2 civil unrest incidents per year. The study concludes that traditional security crackdowns fail to deter political instability when root economic frustrations remain unaddressed. The paper recommends prioritizing youth entrepreneurship funding and vocational pipelines as vital instruments for national security stabilization.

Keywords: Youth Labor, Civil Unrest, Relative Deprivation, Coastal Cities, Macroeconomic Registries, Political Mobilization, Economic Inclusivity

Manuscript Timeline: Received: May 12, 2017; Revised: July 20, 2017; Accepted: August 29, 2017; Published: October 05, 2017

Citation: Diallo, O., & Adebayo, G. (2017). Youth Labor Underutilization and Civil Unrest: Evaluating Relative Deprivation Metrics in Fragile Coastal Urban Centers. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 8(10), 748–756. DOI: 10.46882/2017/GJPCS/0000105

Subscribe to read the full article: https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/subscribe-to-read