“Failure of State and Management of Public Policy by the "Young Patriots" in Côte d'Ivoire” / «Faillite de l’Etat et administration de l’espace public politique par les « jeunes patriotes » en Côte d’Ivoire »

Since the war started in 2002 in Côte d’Ivoire, youth movements which are federated in what is now known as ‘The Young Patriots’ have emerged, played and continue to play a leading role in the political public sphere. Their interference appears to be linked to many factors, the most important being a combination of the failure of the State – hit by a deep structural and institutional crisis – and a upfront style of activism by these youth whose desire is to respond to the government’s calls but also to provide an alternative to State limitations. State/society relationship is revisited in this paper which emphasises the importance of theoretically putting the Habermasian approach to public space into perspective, but also the concept of ‘social movements’ which is generally perceived as independent or even contesting the State. The paper shows that ‘Young Patriots’ not only behave like social movements but they further intervene in the administration of public space not by contesting or protesting it, but by supporting the State.