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UNITED STates institute of peace

© USIP 2011 • All rights reserved.

“According to the USIP 

survey of Iraqi teens, 74 

percent expressed their belief 

that youth their age can play 

a significant role in building 

peace. One boy from Tikrit 

told us during the filming, 

‘Salam Shabab changed 

me. I was isolated before, 

but I overcame this. I want 

to spread peace in Iraq and 

to other countries that have 

a bad opinion of us.’”

January 18, 2011 

Salam Shabab: Views and Voices 

of Iraqi Youth

Summary

•	 Salam Shabab (Peace Youth) is a unique reality TV series filmed in Iraq that brought together 

youth from six provinces of Iraq to compete for a chance to become youth “Ambassadors of 

Peace.” The views of young Iraqis participating in Salam Shabab, along with new surveys on youth 

perspectives, have begun to create a potential profile of the next generation of Iraqi leaders.

•	 Many Iraqi youth express conflicting views on politics and youth participation in Iraq. They 

are disappointed about not having their voices heard by political and civil society leaders, yet 

optimistic about their role in shaping the future of their country.

•	 Iraqi teenagers express tremendous pride in their local communities, which they associate 

with peace, unity and coexistence. Yet, the same youth often cannot clearly define what 

national identity means to them.

•	 Regarding their perceptions on building peace, Iraqi youth indicate that peace in Iraq can be 

achieved through unifying factors such as cross-cultural dialogue. According to them, the 

similarities among diverse people are more powerful in building peace than their differences.

•	 If given the opportunity, a vast majority of Iraqi youth are willing to take on a peacebuilding 

role, in part by connecting with other youth in Iraq and internationally.

Introduction

“I was isolated before, but I overcame this. I want to spread peace in Iraq and to other countries that 

have a bad opinion of us.” Boy, 17, Tikrit

“I now know I have the power to create change. I have my own style. I am good with speeches and 

good at talking. But now I will seek more information and find out the truth before going into a discussion. I will have evidence before talking with my brother.” Girl, 16, Baghdad

“I was shy and had no respect for responsibility. I was afraid to be social. Now I’ve changed 180 

degrees. Now I know how to mix with others, and I respect people and accept responsibility for how I use 

my time.” Girl, 17, Basra

More than fifty Iraqi teens told us about their experiences while participating in the filming of 

the Salam Shabab reality TV show. During a four-week span in July, Iraqi youth from six different 

governorates gathered in Erbil to get to know each other, exchange views on peace in their 

country, and compete in a series of challenges designed to appeal to a TV audience consisting of 

their peers. The youth participants (ages 14−18) began by choosing captains for their teams and 

Theo Dolan

E-mail: tdolan@usip.org

Phone: 202.429.4765

Alexis Toriello

E-mail: atoriello@usip.org

Phone: 202.429.3872

peaceBrieF76
© USIP 2011 • All rights reserved.

Salam Shabab: Views and Voices of Iraqi Youth

page 2 • PB 74 • January 7, 2011

then faced off in the sport challenges despite the summer heat. They matched wits and creativity 

in the mental challenges. Finally, they presented their short films and performances in front of a 

live studio audience that voted for the winners. Each winning team would then compete in the 

championship round for a chance to become youth “Ambassadors of Peace.” The Salam Shabab 

TV show, produced by talented Iraqi filmmakers with USIP support, is part of a multimedia 

peacebuilding program that also includes a pilot documentary and a social networking website. 

The reality show will be broadcast as a 10-episode series over a network of Iraqi satellite channels 

beginning in early 2011.

Though we worked with Iraqi educators and youth organizations to design a peacebuilding 

curriculum as the backbone of the television program, we still had little idea of how the youth 

would respond on camera when the filming started. We were struck by how eagerly the youth 

took the chance to express some of the key elements that shaped their perspectives on peace: 

citizenship, respect for diversity, civic action, and self-confidence. They were disappointed about 

not having their voices heard, yet optimistic about their role in shaping the future. They wanted to 

vote, but didn’t trust political leaders. They had tremendous pride in their local communities, yet 

couldn’t clearly define what national identity meant to them. We knew that we had to understand 

why these dynamic youth had such wide-ranging, and sometimes contradictory, perspectives if 

we wanted to reach out to as many Iraqi youth as possible through the program. By conducting 

our own research, reviewing what limited data exists on Iraqi youth, and listening to the youth 

themselves, we began to see a potential profile of the next generation of Iraqi leaders.

Politics and Participation

Nearly half of the Iraqi population is under 19 years old1—young people who are growing up 

during a time of seemingly constant change, insecurity, and uncertainty. Their parents’ generation—still the decision-makers of today—survived war during the relative stasis of a closed regime 

under Saddam Hussein. This contrast has widened the generation gap that has resulted in the 

youth feeling dissociated and neglected by political and civil society actors. Many young Iraqis 

believe that nobody listens to them and hence their needs remain unaddressed by their leaders. 

This sense has led to defeatism and distrust of politics, in general, as shown in an Iraqi Government 

study that indicates that 41 percent of youth do not trust politics, and only 34 percent believe that 

political parties are important in public life.2 In a USIP commissioned study on political identity 

among Iraqi youth, 93 percent of the young Iraqis surveyed prefer to be independent as opposed 

to affiliated with political parties.3

Yet while Iraqi youth are disappointed with politicians and their own lack of influence in the 

current national reconstruction process, they remain optimistic about their future roles and power 

to create change. Over 86 percent of them plan to participate in future national elections, and 72 

percent agree that it is their right as citizens to participate in the political process. This optimism is 

also evident at the community level where 74 percent feel they can effect positive change within 

their communities,4 and 60 percent agree that their children will have significantly better lives than 

their own generation.5

Despite the dismay felt by the youth regarding the current political environment, they appear to 

be looking forward with positive determination. One Salam Shabab participant told us of his desire 

to “ask the Baghdad provincial council about a place for art.” He speculated that, “Maybe we can 

use an empty urban space—we don’t have many places for art.” This seems to indicate that if given 

the chance, Iraqi youth could take action to improve the future of their country. 
© USIP 2011 • All rights reserved.

Salam Shabab: Views and Voices of Iraqi Youth

page 3 • PB 74 • January 7, 2011

Local Pride, National Confusion

Since the fall of Saddam in 2003, many Iraqi youth have not traveled outside their hometowns 

due to perilous security conditions. They have been facing new hazards as the locus of danger 

shifted from an internal threat (such as anyone opposing the former regime) to more external 

and undefined threats (such as cross-border terrorism). In periods of crisis such as this, people in 

general are drawn to what they know best—their communities and their family units. For Iraqi 

youth, in particular, identifying with their local roots forms the basis of their strongly positive and 

carefully articulated feelings for family and community. Salam Shabab participants said in varying 

forms that they came from “peaceful” communities where they were “raised with respect and love.” 

One teenage boy told us he was “happy to be from Tikrit where people cooperate and support 

each other.”

These impressions contrast with how Iraqi youth feel about their national identities. Many Salam 

Shabab participants were unable to express what it meant to be Iraqi with the same clarity that 

characterized the understanding of their local affiliations. Several noted that “Iraq is a big word” 

which leads to identifying as Iraqis in broad, idealistic terms. A USIP survey of Iraqi teens revealed 

the fault lines between local and national identities. When asked how they felt about being Iraqi 

citizens, many noted that they were proud, happy, or satisfied largely due to their regional origins. 

Many felt misunderstood, confused, or angry at the same time in the larger context of being an 

Iraqi. Meanwhile, half of those surveyed responded to the term “love of country” by saying that it 

was “no more than just words.”6

The values that Iraqi youth associate with the national political arena largely contradict the 

values they link to their local and community roots. While they appear to have inculcated qualities 

they have seen in their communities—tolerance, communication and coexistence—they distance 

themselves generally from self-serving individuals in pursuit of money and power. One girl from 

Salam Shabab said that she valued honesty above all else, and that she “hates gossip and false 

judgment and that 80 percent of people in Iraq have false judgment.”

Perspectives on Peace

How does all this translate into youth perspectives on building peace in Iraq? Youth surveyed after 

watching the pilot documentary for Salam Shabab indicated that the future of Iraq depends on 

building peace and that a peaceful Iraq will take the form of a unified Iraq. This does not necessarily mean that the desire for a unified country can be equated with national pride. Instead, the 

youth consistently identified the need to overcome sectarianism and ethnic differences in order 

to achieve unity and peace. When asked whether similarities or differences were a stronger force, 

52 percent of Iraqi youth indicated that similarities would be more effective in building peace, 

while only 25 percent thought that differences exerted a more powerful influence. Taking it a step 

further, they expressed their desire to respect diversity in Iraq and initiate cross-cultural dialog 

among youth groups. Fully, 64 percent of youth agreed that a broad acceptance of cross-cultural 

dialog among the different groups that make up Iraqi society would constitute an important step 

in building a peaceful Iraq.7

Based also on the formative research conducted around the pilot documentary, Iraqi youth 

clearly recognized their role in the peacebuilding process. They stressed that they would take 

center stage in building peace with all they have to offer. “Youth are the foundation of the society, 

and we have new ideas for building a peaceful Iraq with an open-minded and tolerant society,” 

was a common remark among the teens surveyed. According to the USIP survey of Iraqi teens, 74 

percent expressed their belief that youth their age can play a significant role in building peace.8
© USIP 2011 • All rights reserved.

Salam Shabab: Views and Voices of Iraqi Youth

page 4 • PB 74 • January 7, 2011

One boy from Tikrit told us during the filming, “Salam Shabab changed me. I was isolated before, 

but I overcame this. I want to spread peace in Iraq and to other countries that have a bad opinion 

of us.”

Building a Community for Peace

While Iraqi youth perspectives are far more complex than what is presented above, the teenage 

participants of Salam Shabab have offered us a unique glimpse of their collective mindset. Just 

as these youth perceive local identity to be very different from national identity, they also have 

divergent views on the present state and future possibilities for their country. Their hopes for a 

unified Iraq are largely based on the values they observe in their communities. They often take 

pride in their belief that these communities are characterized by unity, peace, love, tolerance and 

coexistence. Ultimately, Iraqi youth appear to want to shape Iraq in the image of their familiar local 

environments so that they feel connected and influential.

Salam Shabab attempts to build this kind of community—via television and the Internet—by 

connecting Iraqi youth and empowering them to become confident, responsible, and participatory citizens. Why through the media? 16 million Iraqis watch television on a daily basis and 

58 percent reported that they watch for more than 45 minutes per day.9 While television is the 

clear medium of choice in Iraq, Salam Shabab also includes a social networking website (http://

salamshabab.com) as an online community for the youth to share their peacebuilding experiences. Although only 13 percent of Iraqi youth currently use the Internet,10 this number is growing 

rapidly,11 and many Iraqi teens are avid users of online social networks such as Facebook. Between 

satellite television and the Internet components of the program, the potential audience for Salam 

Shabab extends well beyond the borders of Iraq. 

In fact, the multimedia nature of Salam Shabab reflects the desire of Iraqi youth to connect 

with each other in Iraq and internationally. 79 percent of young Iraqis surveyed believe that it is 

important or very important to be connected to other youth in different parts of Iraq, while 81 

percent think it is just as important to be linked with a global community of youth.12 And if given a 

forum for their views, most Iraqi youth would discuss issues like human rights and peacebuilding 

with their friends and family, since these topics are not readily available in schools. For those youth 

without regular access to media, USIP staff in Iraq will work with local partners to arrange Salam 

Shabab screenings and group discussions in up to eight provinces. To partly address the need for 

peacebuilding material in Iraqi schools, USIP will meet with relevant officials in the national and 

provincial governments to consider how to use the Salam Shabab program and curriculum as an 

educational tool. In short, Salam Shabab has the potential to reach youth not only through media, 

but also through community outreach and the classrooms of Iraq.

So how can Iraqi teenagers begin to take action as part of the Salam Shabab community and as 

the next generation of Iraqi peacebuilders? Those who participated in the challenges of the reality 

TV show worked together in diverse teams and learned to take on more responsibility as individuals and citizens. They, in turn, could teach other youth watching the reality show or participating in 

the online community. So Salam Shabab can become a channel for building a participatory culture 

among Iraqi youth. This participatory culture can fuel their optimism to create change, heighten 

their desire to participate in the political process, and reflect their deeply engrained respect for 

Iraqi diversity. Enabling the youth to decide when and how they can put their thoughts to action is 

crucial, even if the action starts small.

“As a group, we can spread peace by talking to people and through simple activities. I would stop a 

person from throwing a bottle in the street. Start with simple things.” Boy, 17, Baghdad
© USIP 2011 • All rights reserved.

Salam Shabab: Views and Voices of Iraqi Youth

page 5 • PB 74 • January 7, 2011

Endnotes

1. Ministry of Youth and Sports et al., Iraq National Youth and Adolescent Survey 2009, 

http://cosit.gov.iq/english/pdf/2010/youth_nys.pdf (January 4, 2011).

2. Ibid.

3. Eric Davis, “The Formation of Political Identities in Ethnically Divided Societies: Implications for 

a Democratic Transition in Iraq,” (unpublished manuscript, 2010), Word Document.

4. U.S. Institute of Peace, “Peace Media Survey for Iraqi Youth” (unpublished manuscript, 

2009−2010), Word Document.

5. Eric Davis, “The Formation of Political Identities in Ethnically Divided Societies.”

6. Ibid.

7. Reem Zada and Ghada al Sharif, “Salam Shabab Formative Research,” (unpublished manuscript, 2009−2010), Word Document.

8. U.S. Institute of Peace, “Peace Media Survey for Iraqi Youth.”

9. IREX and D3 Systems, “Iraq media Study: National Audience Analysis,” November 2009, http://

www.irex.org/resource/iraq-media-study-national-audience-analysis (January 4, 2011). 

10. Ministry of Yourth and Sports et al., Iraq National Youth and Adolescent Survey 2009.

11. World Bank, “World Development Indicators 1960−2010”, ESDS International, (Mimas) University of Manchester, http://databank.worldbank.org/ddp/home.do (January 4, 2011).

12. U.S. Institute of Peace, “Peace Media Survey for Iraqi Youth.”

USIP provides the analysis, training and 

tools that prevent and end conflicts, 

promotes stability and professionalizes 

the field of peacebuilding.

For media inquiries, contact the office 

of Public Affairs and Communications, 

202.429.4725

About This Brief

This report was written by Theo 

Dolan, Senior Program Officer, and 

Alexis Toriello, Research Assistant, 

at the Center of Innovation for 

Media, Conflict and Peacebuilding. It is a unique collection of 

Iraqi youth perspectives based on 

recent research as well as firsthand 

views of Iraqi youth participating 

in the filming of the Salam Shabab 

(Peace Youth) reality TV series.