The document discusses how youth population and unemployment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region impact US national security. It covers the US National Security Strategy for MENA, which includes dismantling terror networks, confronting external aggression, ensuring free flow of energy, and preventing weapons of mass destruction. It also discusses youth unemployment, education levels and opportunities, foreign direct investment, and proposes rewriting the security strategy to address economic issues and increasing private sector partnerships for skills training.

1. The MENA Region: The Impacts of
Youth Population and Employment
on US National Security
Josh Dunn
Intelligence Analysis Program
Middle Eastern Communities and Migrations Minor

2. Covered in the Presentation
• The US National Security Strategy (NSS) for
the MENA (Middle East and North Africa)
Region
• Youth Unemployment
• Education
• Private vs. Public sector incentives/securities
• FDIs (Foreign Direct Investments)

3. US National Security Strategy (NSS)
• Dismantling Terror
Networks
• Confronting external
aggression against allies
• Ensuring free flow of
energy
• Preventing WMDs
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MENA_map.png

4. Population Breakdown

5. Employment

6. Education
• College educated unemployment can be higher than 30%
• Disparity between over-qualified and under-qualified college
graduates

8. FDIs

9. Opportunities
• Rewrite the US NSS to address specific
economic issues
• Partner with US private sector businesses to
help provide technical expertise to the MENA
region private sector
• Work with educational institutions to provide
better training and skills for graduates

10. Confidence Level
• High level of confidence
• Status of economic trends
• Minimal information gaps with economic
trends
• Other drivers/trends

11. Questions?
• Dunn2jt@dukes.jmu.edu
Thanks
• Dr. Tang
• Capstone Sponsor:
– Toffler Associates
• Capstone Advisors
– Masseh Tahiry
– Jason Fieger