Human Holisitic Intelligence and civic engagement amongst young people in Madagascar

Social Science

Madagascar presents a startling paradox because it is still one of the world's poorest countries despite its rich natural resources, abundant biodiversity, and young population. Inclusive growth has been hampered by structural issues such as reliance on the export of raw materials, political unpredictability, and a lack of institutional transparency. Young people are underrepresented in decision-making processes because traditional growth-centered strategies have frequently excluded civic engagement. In light of this, the idea of holistic intelligence seems like a revolutionary framework for reconsidering youth involvement and poverty alleviation. Emotional, spiritual, adaptive, ecological, civic, political, creative, financial, and health are just a few of the characteristics that holistic intelligence incorporates into a comprehensive approach that cuts across disciplinary boundaries. It empowers youth to mobilize empathy, resilience, creativity, and civic responsibility in tackling difficult societal issues by connecting individual resources to group dynamics. Edgar Morin's theory of complex cognition, which emphasizes connectivity, uncertainty management, and integrative citizenship, is consistent with this multidimensional perspective. The article demonstrates how holistic intelligence can strengthen youth civic practices in Madagascar, from environmental initiatives to cultural movements and community projects. It makes the case for integrating holistic citizenship education into curricula, supported by institutional participation, visual aids, and interactive methods. The framework has the ability to promote solidarity, dignity, and creativity as drivers of social cohesion, despite obstacles like scarce resources, cultural opposition, and methodological ambiguity. In the end, holistic intelligence is a civic practice with roots in Malagasy culture rather than just theory. It provides a way to turn poverty into resilience and create sustainable, engaged communities by enabling young people to act as agents of inclusive development.

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