About Book

This edited volume investigates how young people in fragile African contexts adopt non violent strategies amid violence. Through empirically grounded case studies across the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, and more, the book reveals how social infrastructures—initially designed for everyday life—are repurposed by youth for peace amid chaos. The editors develop a theoretical framework identifying conditions under which non-violence emerges, challenging assumptions that violence is the default response in breakdown scenarios. This work contributes to understanding bottom-up resilience and nonviolent agency among marginalized youth In a time when many African regions face ongoing fragility and youth disenfranchisement, this book is timely and necessary. It provides community engagement frameworks highlighting youth-led peace initiatives, valuable for NGOs, international agencies, and local activists. Its insights directly inform programming for youth-driven rehabilitation, social cohesion, and prevention of radicalization through empowerment of existing social networks and infrastructures. Youth and Non Violence in Africa’s Fragile Contexts is a significant contribution that illuminates nonviolent agency among youth in contexts often overlooked. It offers theoretical innovation, empirical richness, and practical utility for peacebuilders and scholars alike. Its strengths include rigorous, context-rich case studies and the development of a coherent theoretical lens for youth non-violence. The interdisciplinary approach draws from anthropology, sociology, and political science. One limitation is the geographic focus—while diverse, it may not be universally representative across Africa. However, its detailed scholarship and policy relevance significantly enrich literature on nonviolent peacebuilding.