Syrian Youth: Shifts in Awareness and the Future Based on Data Analysis

How have the attitudes of Syrian youth changed in recent years? A view through the lens of data

• Radical shifts in awareness and the future of Syrian youth.
• The deteriorating economy as a major factor in changing attitudes.
• Political fatigue and declining direct engagement.
• The desire to stay and migrate: a fluctuating balance.
• Trust in media and technology and their impact on shaping attitudes.

Table of Contents

• Section One: Economic Challenges and Changes in Youth Priorities
• Section Two: Political and Social Attitudes
• Section Three: Migration and Willingness to Stay
• Section Four: Trust in Media and Technology
• Section Five: Building Trust and Future Cooperation Possibilities

Section One: Economic Challenges and Changes in Youth Priorities (The Major Driver of Change)

If we were to identify the most influential factor in changing the attitudes of Syrian youth, it would undoubtedly be the deteriorating economic situation. The economic crisis has surpassed the “distress” phase to become an “existential crisis” for a wide segment of the youth.

A. Erosion of Trust in Local Work Opportunities

In the early years of the crisis, some youths, especially in relatively stable areas, relied on scattered job opportunities or rebuilding certain sectors. Today, our data shows a sharp decline in optimism about job opportunities available within Syria.

Data analysis shows:

1. Shift from “seeking a good job” to “seeking any source of income”: The percentage of young people who set “getting a valuable professional job” as a primary goal has decreased by more than 40% compared to 2018 data. Conversely, the percentage focusing on securing basic income, even through informal work or the “gray economy,” has increased.
2. Decline in the importance of traditional education as a future guarantee: An increasing number of those surveyed indicate that a university degree is no longer a guarantee for employment or economic stability. This has led to growing interest in freelancing and digital skills as alternative paths, especially among tech-savvy youth.

B. The Concept of “Economic Stability”: Updating the Definition

Stability no longer means owning property or a stable government job as it did before. Due to massive inflation and the decline of the lira’s value, stability is now measured by “value transfer” ability and maintaining savings or the ability to purchase foreign currencies for protection against deterioration. This intellectual shift reflects a deep sense of long-term economic uncertainty.

Section Two: Political and Social Attitudes: Between Mobilization and Withdrawal

The political attitudes of Syrian youth have undergone a complex transformation, which can be described as a “withdrawal from direct engagement” accompanied by “extremism in fundamental views.”

A. Political Fatigue and Decline in Formal Interest

After years of emotional or direct engagement in the political scene (whether in support or opposition), our studies point to a phenomenon of Political Fatigue.

Insight Syria data on engagement:

• The percentage of young people who follow political news “daily” has dropped to its lowest recorded levels since 2014. This decline does not necessarily mean a lack of interest in the national cause, but rather a shift in follow-up mechanisms; they now prefer concise and reliable information through social media platforms instead of detailed official events coverage.
• Trust in most active political parties (whether inside or outside Syria) has significantly declined. How have the attitudes of Syrian youth changed here? The focus has shifted from “who will govern?” to “how will I live?” Pragmatism has replaced ideology as the main driver of life decisions.

B. Increasing Focus on Service and Local Issues

Attention has been directed to issues that directly affect daily life: electricity, fuel, healthcare, and education. This focus on local affairs is a direct result of the absence of any comprehensive political vision that provides a solution to these basic needs.

Today, Syrian youth are more willing to support local community and service initiatives (even if operating within a specific political framework) as long as they deliver tangible results, compared to adopting grand political slogans that have not fulfilled their promises.

C. The Concept of Identity and Belonging: Complexities of Division

Identity is one of the most sensitive aspects in analyzing the attitudes of Syrian youth. Old divisions are still present, but the way young people express them has changed:

1. Adapting to geographical reality: There is an increasing identification with “local identity” (city, immediate geographical area) as a defensive and affirmative mechanism in light of the weakening national identity.
2. Ideological distancing: The data indicates an increase in “ideological flexibility” among wide sectors, especially in areas that have undergone repeated changes in control. Loyalty has become to the beneficiary or the provider, not necessarily to the abstract cause.

Section Three: Migration and Willingness to Stay: A Fluctuating Balance

Perhaps the most important question in any Syrian social research is: Do young people want to stay or leave? The answer is not simple but a continuous oscillation reflecting current challenges.

A. The Second Wave of “Brain Drain”

After the large wave of migration that followed the early years of the crisis, we are currently witnessing a “second wave” characterized by entirely different features, causing great concern among developmental institutions.

Feature	First Wave (2013-2016)	Current Wave (2021-present)
Main Driver	Immediate fear of fighting or security pursuit.	Economic despair and lack of future prospects.
Demographic Composition	Families and individuals with varied educational backgrounds.	Majority of young educated professionals (brain drain).
Preferred Destination	Neighboring countries (Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan).	Western Europe or Gulf countries (for higher income).

This “brain drain” leaves a significant gap in the cadre capable of rebuilding the country. Real data analysis confirms that the percentage of young people who have an effective migration plan (obtained a visa or have a clear path) has risen significantly in the last three years.

B. The Opposing Driver: “Rootedness”

Despite rising migration desires, there is a significant segment choosing to stay. How have the attitudes of Syrian youth towards staying changed?

Staying has transformed from being a “compulsory choice” to a “conscious choice” driven by strong psychological and social factors:

1. Family and social bonds: A sense of responsibility towards the extended family that cannot travel.
2. A sense of belonging and identity: For some youth, staying is a form of existential resistance or cultural identity preservation against globalization or forced assimilation into new communities.
3. Local networking: Developing local work and social support networks have become stronger than those they might be able to build abroad.

This contradiction between the desire to leave and the need to stay is the essence of the psychological conflict facing Syrian youth today.

Section Four: Trust in Media and Technology (Changing Information Pathways)

Amidst the dominance of contradictory narratives, Syrian youth have become more adept at “filtering” information, influencing how their attitudes are shaped.

A. Decline of Traditional Media Authority

Our studies in Syrian public opinion monitoring reveal that trust in “official” or “traditional opposition” TV channels and news sites has steadily declined. Youth rely heavily on socially directed information sources.

Keywords associated with media consumption:

• Fast and reliable content: Youth prefer content delivered through short videos (Reels/TikTok) from people they view as personally credible (Influencers or local experts), even if the content lacks methodological detail.
• Impact of external platforms: Platforms like “X” (formerly Twitter) and “Telegram” play a crucial role in disseminating urgent information, but they are also a main source of misinformation.

B. Role of Technology as a “Lifeline”

Technology is no longer just a tool for entertainment but has become a lifeline for maintaining social bonds and work. How have the attitudes of Syrian youth towards digitization changed? They have become more aware of the importance of cybersecurity and privacy, with increasing security concerns associated with internet use.

The emergence of digital currencies and electronic transfers (despite restrictions) has also provided a glimmer of hope for young people to conduct their transactions outside the crumbling traditional banking system.

Section Five: Building Trust and Future Cooperation Potential (Insight Syria’s Vision)

Real data analysis on these shifts provides invaluable insights for governmental and non-governmental organizations and international entities seeking to offer effective and sustainable interventions in Syria.

At “Insight Syria,” we understand that working in this context requires more than just number crunching; it requires an understanding of the cultural and psychological context that guides these attitudes.

A. Need to Design Programs Tailored to Actual Needs

Data shows that aid and training programs must go beyond general categorizations (displaced, resident) to more precise categories reflecting the changing priorities of youth:

1. Programs building economic resilience: Focusing on supporting very small entrepreneurship, providing training in globally needed digital skills, rather than focusing on saturated traditional sectors.
2. Trustworthy communication: Organizations aiming to reach the youth must use communication channels they trust and build messages characterized by transparency and realism about what can be achieved.

B. Building Bridges Between Generations

Our analyses show a growing understanding gap between the older generation (which may cling to old political and economic perspectives) and the youth who have adopted a harsh pragmatism due to lived conditions. Any successful strategy requires programs aimed at promoting dialogue and understanding the motivations of the new generation, away from preset judgment declarations.

C. Importance of Continuous and Accurate Research

To continuously track how the attitudes of Syrian youth have changed, we need flexible research methodologies capable of adapting to fast-changing field dynamics. Relying on reliable field data collection tools and qualitative analysis alongside quantitative statistics is the key to success. Companies and governmental entities investing in accurate and continuous research are the only ones capable of anticipating trends instead of merely reacting to them.

The Syrian youth landscape is complex, full of challenges, but it also bears seeds of exceptional resilience and creativity. Understanding their changing attitudes—driven by economic necessity and accumulated political despair—is the compass that determines the course of any future developmental or political effort in the country. The continuation of “Insight Syria” in providing these evidence-based insights ensures that decisions made concerning Syria are grounded in facts on the ground, not expectations.

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