Analyzing contemporary Libya through the prism of its youngest demographic makes it possible to discern the wider social and political transformations within its polity. This chapter builds on literatures pertaining to agency, social mobilization, war economies, and the legacies of wartime violence and mobilization. It details how Libyan youth are increasingly penetrating militarized spaces since the 2011 revolution. This dynamic is the result of a confluence of socio-political, economic, and security factors; more broadly, it is both reflective of a decline in the agency of post-revolutionary shabab (young men) and borne out of their attempt to reclaim it. The chapter assesses how declining agency has affected post-revolutionary generations of Libya’s youth, notably their political positioning, their prospects for empowerment and employment, and overall livelihood.
