Three years into Lebanon’s debilitating and still unresolved crisis, the country’s future lifeline—its youth—are being pushed past breaking point. On the one hand, the magnitude of the crisis has shaken the popularity and public legitimacy of traditional parties, presenting new openings for alternative or independent candidates to compete over electoral slots. On the other, the weight of the pressure brought on by the protracted crisis is fueling despair and undermining confidence in the political process. Where do youth stand amidst such an uncertain and volatile context? 

To answer that question, this report sheds light on the political objectives and concerns of youth voters, aged 21 to 29, and unpacks the strategies, tools, and challenges facing youth campaigners in the syndicate and university elections in the build-up to the 2022 parliamentary elections. In doing so, this paper seeks to identify the major priorities and concerns of Lebanese youth and assess the campaigning, organizational, and leadership capacities of youth movements in elections since 2019.