CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background To The Study

Across the globe, societies have had to deal with threats/risk in various forms. Some of this forms of threat have proved a great challenge to the society and stretched the debate on what social unrest is. The concept of unrest has a long history in the civilization of man, most especially on youths which affects the  social ,economic and political stability of nations. Real or perceived risk can cause tension and move people to act.

As many case histories show this risk or threats can be different in nature and origin,but may lead to similar type of social re(actions). Risk can be generally observed as the as the substance or potential for experiencing harm (Renn 2011 /zwick2008). Most especially it donates the likelihood of a scenario leading to adverse effects caused by an activity event. Some see threat in the perspective of sin threat in the perspective of sin (Wikipedia Encyclopedia). Some highlighted the issue of threat as sin in a mythological or legendary account  of the origin of man.

One of such is the Quran and Biblical records of the fall of man which tells the story of Cain and Abel (New International Version).There are disparities on the concept of threat with regards to people and places (Ortwin Renn, Aleksandra, Regina 2011).Nevertheless, when it bears its effect upon individuals and national security, it often becomes of national concern. Some of these threats have evolved through societal and legal processes giving some form of societal idiosyncrasies to some criminal acts. One of such threats is Social Unrest.

Defining Social Unrest poses a numerous definitional problems in relation to the moral and legal viewpoint of a country as well as the existence of or actions /variances such as strikes and riots. However, the context of this paper, social unrest in the constitution of the law is an offence involving destabilization and instability of a state either by agreement involving a group of people particularly youths which could either be caused by intimidation, oppression, unemployment (Wikipedia Encyclopedia).

The issue of unrest  however gained it’s early prominence in  (Watts to Newark  ) where youths were hindered from employment and a good livelihood (Etymology online “Unrest”).The word Unrest thereby evolved from a phrase meaning (civil order)and was first recorded in the year (1960s). (Etymology online ”Unrest”),over the years it has taken different forms with regards to the reason for carrying bout such actions by youths(perpetrators).

(Renn 2011),Social Unrest is a globalised phenomenon which have challenge every government of affected countries which have led to the rise of threats as a result of the recent financial and economic crisis has led to soaring youth unemployment. However, before the crisis, the job situation, including youth unemployment, was already a major concern in most of the countries.

In Africa for instance, youth unemployment is exacerbated by the additional challenges of a youth population which is considerably higher than other regions, weak National labour markets and persistently high levels of poverty.70 percent of the region’s population is under the age of 30, and slightly more than 20 percent are young people between the ages of 15 to 24.2. More recently, the North Africa region, which has the world’s highest youth unemployment rates and where one in four young people is reported as jobless, experienced violent social uprisings in which young people played a critical role.

Numerous studies argue that youth unemployment and underemployment are threat to the social, economic and political stability of nations (Urdal, 2006, 2012). This statement follows the increasing body of literature on the causes of political instability and conflicts, such as( Collier and Hoeffler 2002) or ( Miguel 2004) to name a few. Cross country evidences suggest two main lines of theorizing.

Cross country evidences suggest two main lines of theorizing. One set of theories stresses the role that political repression plays in driving conflict. In this view, ethnic groups that experience discrimination should be the most likely to organize armed insurrections against the state, and conflicts should be most likely to erupt in undemocratic states and those with pronounced social divisions (Miguel, 2007).

This is also likely to happen in less divided society, but where people feel marginalized because of lack of job or extreme poverty. A second set of theories ,focuses on economic conditions as paramount, rather than political factors. In other words, in this view, poverty and falling income are the key to sparking civil conflicts.

This may either be because poverty breeds armed violence aimed at looting assets and natural resources or because poor states simply have limited institutional capacity to repress armed uprisings (Miguel 2007). Social Unrest how ever threatens the very element of this definition which encompassed in national development which should therefore be of serious national concern.

(Julius A Amin 2013)Cameroon’s many problems and its seeming inability to march with world wide trends was brought into sharp focus by the protest lately  with the economic and political strive of individuals and groups, the riot of youths in the southwest and Northwest region on Cameroon by group of youths (terrorist), threatens the very economic and socio-political statements, they stepped up their crime act by rioting leading to loss of lives of high political figures and other individuals.This crime acts have affected several regions and towns in Cameroon leading to some implementations like ghost towns due to the protest of February 2008.

Due to the protest of February 2008,States were affected most especially the Littoral region of Cameroon which was a non-violent protest which began as a transportation worker strike and later on turned to an anti-Biya campaign Streets in the city of Douala, became a center of violence, looting, police brutality, and destruction. On February 26, the city administrators imposed a state of emergency.

The following day, February 27, President Paul Biya broke his silence. In a nation wide televised address, he admonished Cameroonians to stop the mayhem, vowing to prosecute to the fullest those “demons” that had “manipulated” the youths. Labeling as “apprentice sorcerers”, those he claimed misled the youths; he promised swift action to restore the statu qquo The actions of the wrong doers were doomed to failure, he fumed, since the youths “cannot be built through destruction”.

And as a result of this protest many lost their lives and properties were destroyed leading to regrets as a result of some possible flash points is well-known: ethnic and regional Rivalry, political and economic corruption, chronic unemployment, and social and urban decay (Takougang & Krieger 1998)( Mbembe 2001)(Bayart 2009).

This unrest touched on all of Cameroon’s flashpoints and dramatically under scored the nation’s failure to keep up with regional and global trends. The broad and multifaceted nature of the events of February 2008 has made correct analysis more difficult. To many it was a response to the rising cost of food, petrol, and other basic necessities; to others the demonstration was a conspiracy created by the opposition political parties in Cameroon to destabilize the Biya regime, and to others the street demonstration was a dress rehearsal of an impending national crisis.

1.2 Statement Of Problem.

Cameroon’s Social Unrest which became crutial in February 2008 degenerated into a problem between the youths and government in the name of wanting to bring to their knowledge and make them understand the benefits of eliminating unemployment due to this there has been so many involvements by youths which acte as a threat to national security since 2008 through some unwilling involvements in theft, Kidnapping, Scamming which has led to infliction of pains and in humane treatment on the victims as well as forgoing their good morals which have really been hampered by their involvements. Unemployment and under employment are some threats to social, economic and Political stability of a nation (Therese F.Azeng and Thierry U. Yogo 2013).

Despite the calmness of youths at times, violence and loss of lives continue to be the order of the day in the Littoral Region of Cameroon but has resulted to the question as to whether employment is an effective tool for resolving unrest or not ,the reason why many  youths are still involved in outrageous acte. Therefore this study seeks to investigate the dimensions of Social Unrest on Cameroon Youths: Case study Littoral.

1.3 Research Questions.

1. What are the causes of social unrest in the Littoral Region of Cameroon?
2. What are the consequences of Social Unrest in the Littoral Region of Cameroon?
3. What are the roles of the Schools, families, government, church as a religious organization and Socio-religion solutions or policies that could be formulated in tackling Social Unrest as a Social or Socio-economic problem?

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