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What do young people think about democracy today?

Young people, often grouped as “Gen Z” and younger millennials, tend to support democratic ideals: free speech, civil liberties, and having a voice in decisions that affect their lives. But a growing share are skeptical that the current systems actually deliver. Many praise democracy as the best form of government in theory, yet report frustration, distrust, and sometimes openness to far-from-democratic fixes when institutions fail to solve urgent problems like housing, jobs, or climate breakdown.

Voting still matters, but it’s complicated.

Across Europe, many young people identify voting (local, national, or European) as a primary way to make their voice heard. Yet turnout among the youngest voters can be uneven and context-dependent: when young people feel their needs are ignored, they disengage, or seek alternative routes such as protest, grassroots campaigns, or online activism. In short: they haven’t abandoned electoral politics, but they judge it more by results than by ritual.

Skepticism and in some cases, alarming openness to alternatives.

Recent surveys and studies suggest a worrying minority of young people say they would consider authoritarian solutions if those seemed to “work” better. For example, multi-country polling in Europe has shown declining unconditional support for democracy among some cohorts and rising willingness, in certain places and circumstances, to entertain strongman-style leadership as a fix (especially when economic and housing prospects seem bleak). That doesn’t mean most young people want authoritarianism, most still prefer democracy, but the erosion of unconditional support is a red flag.

Why are so many young people frustrated?

A few recurring reasons show up across studies:

  • Economic precarity, difficulty finding stable jobs, affordable housing, and the sense that the system benefits older generations more.
  • Perceived lack of responsiveness, politicians and institutions feel slow, corrupt, or captured by special interests.
  • Mismatched priorities, young people rate issues like climate action, digital rights, and housing higher than many incumbents prioritise them.
  • Information ecosystems, social media mixes credible information with misinformation; trust in mainstream news is uneven.

 

These drivers help explain why support for “democracy in principle” can coexist with anger at “democracy as practiced.”

But it’s not all doom and gloom, they engage differently.

Young people often prefer practical, outcome-focused engagement: volunteering, local initiatives, climate strikes, community projects, online campaigns, and peer networks. Civic participation isn’t disappearing; it’s changing shape. Those who are most engaged tend to trust local actors and peer networks that show tangible impact rather than distant national institutions.

What would rebuild their faith?

Evidence suggests young people want institutions that deliver and that listen. Policies that improve economic prospects, tangible climate action, better housing, meaningful youth inclusion in decision-making, transparent institutions, and civic education that prepares young people to navigate both facts and misinformation are all repeatedly mentioned as ways to strengthen democratic legitimacy. In short: repair performance and rebuild trust.

Bottom line

Young people largely endorse democratic ideals, but their patience is limited. When democracy feels unresponsive to real-life needs, a worrying mix of disengagement, protest, and openness to radical alternatives increases. The remedy is not nostalgia for “the way things were,” but practical, inclusive reforms that show democracy can still solve the problems young people care about.  

 

 

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