The struggle for stability in youthful nations

Countries with large youthful populations are less stable than countries with aging populations. The deadliest conflicts of the 21st century - the Syrian Civil War, Darfur (Sudan), Iraq, Afghanistan, and Yemen, and the war against Boko Haram in Nigeria - all took place in countries with disproportionately young populations. The countries' economic activities were curtailed, as multinational firms withdrew their investments and further worsened the situation. Unfortunately the poor of the world increasingly were concentrated in these countries with high levels of conflict, and the main effect of these conflicts was to make their situation worse. The purpose of this chapter is to examine demographic and other trends in such youthful nations and in the Palestinian Territories and to draw out the implications for business. The countries of interest are Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Nigeria. The chapter also deals with the Palestinian Territories.