'First Horizons' show: no more tokenism
Young voices on dismantling colonial systems and demanding real change
Summary:
This conversation brought together young leaders from Tunisia, Iraq, and Rome to discuss reimagining global peace and security systems. Balkis Chaabane, a Tunisian student studying Mediterranean security, emphasized how current peace and security frameworks are shaped by colonial legacies and Western dominance, arguing that young people from global majority countries must be at the core of redefining these systems. Abdulrahman Karim, speaking from Northern Iraq, shared the harsh realities of living in a post-conflict society where basic needs, dignity, and freedom remain elusive, and where 68% of Iraq’s population is under 30 yet excluded from power. Both speakers stressed the urgent need to mobilize, disrupt existing structures, and hold themselves accountable while building movements that center local voices and decolonized approaches. The conversation highlighted how this generation’s access to information and connectivity creates a unique window of opportunity to reshape world order, despite the risks and sacrifices required.
Quick Clips:
Balkis on youth voices (1.03)
Key Points:
Decolonizing peace and security: Current systems reflect colonial-era power structures and Western narratives that don’t serve global majority countries; definitions of peace and security must be locally led and context-specific
Youth at the decision-making core: Young people, especially from conflict-affected regions, must move beyond tokenistic inclusion to genuine leadership roles in reshaping international institutions and policies
Mobilization and disruption are essential: Individual voices alone cannot move entrenched systems; young people must organize collectively, push back against performative activism, and challenge established narratives
The danger of performative activism: Social media visibility and recognition can distract from real impact; leaders must surround themselves with people who challenge them and constantly question whether their work creates concrete change
Language shapes reality: Terms like “empowering” and “strengthening capacity” carry colonial assumptions that undermine communities; decolonizing language in aid, policy, and international relations is critical
Iraq’s invisible reality: Stereotypes portray Iraq as a nation of terrorists, erasing its rich civilization and the fact that young Iraqis are fighting for basic needs, dignity, and democratic participation while facing violence and surveillance
Keep Following:
Balkis Chabaane Linkedin, Founder & Executive Director of Youth Transforming Narratives (YTN)
Abdulrahman Karim of the MENA Coalition