A recent European scale inquiry has revealed that less than 6 out of 10 young Europeans believes that democracy is the best form of government. 1 In 5 says it would support an authoritarian regime under certain circumstances. And only 6% believes your political system works well.
The fundamental confidence in which the Democracy seems to disappear. Why are young people lose their faith in democracy? And what will be necessary to restore it?
Confidence in democracy begins with confidence in its institutions: Governments, Courts and Public Services. When these institutions are seen as poorly reactive, unresponsible or unfair, confidence in democracy falters.
O, that David McMillanProfessor at the University of Stirling (United Kingdom) was co -author, shows that institutional trust is decreasing worldwide.
This change, writes McMillan in an article, is more pronounced among young people: according to the latest available barometer data, more than a quarter of people born in the 1990s claim to have no confidence in their governments.
This value is about 17% for people over 65. This is not a temporary break. It is a generational change in the way citizens relate to power.
For many years, Europe seemed to challenge this trend compared to other regions. Younger generations trusted more in institutions than the oldest. But this pattern reversed itself. Today, they are more skeptical, more disappointed and more open to alternatives.
Why democracy is broken
At the center of this crisis are the inequalitya insecurity and Erosion of trust.
Firstly, the Persistent inequality widens social distances Between social groups, feeding the resentment and conviction that the system is manipulated. Although the inequality of income in Europe has not increased as sharply as other places, it hides the growing generational disparities. According to the IMF, the income of active Europeans have stagnant since the 2007-2008 financial crisis. Young people currently have the lower median income of all age groupsalthough the income of the reformed have increased.
A economic insecurity It aggravates the feeling that wealth and opportunities are distributed unevenly. Many young Europeans feel blocked, unable to pay a housing, build stable careers or plan their future. In the Young Europe 2025 inquiry, more than a third of respondents says that ensuring an affordable cost of living should be a top political priority. However, the institutions designed to provide security and opportunities are often seen as ineffective and undone of reality.
McMillan’s investigation confirms that the perception of inequality and insecurity is one of the main factors of distrust. When institutions do not protect people from risk or do not fulfill promises, the social contract that supports democracy is undone.
The “generational bargain” of progress is breaking. Many young Europeans no longer believe that democracy guarantees upward mobility or protects its dignity. This disappointment was aggravated by the crises that defined their adulthood: From the migrant crisis, pandemic and climate anxiety to the war in Ukraine, these shocks have shook faith in the ability of institutions to respond to uncertainty.
How to rebuild confidence in democracy
A confidence will not be restored only with rhetoric. Democracy has to prove that it can produce tangible results.
This means satisfy basic expectations of the younger generations: housing at affordable prices, work Digno, one habitable planet and one significant participation in political processes.
One of the most effective ways of rebuilding trust is through universal and inclusive social protection. When public services are seen as fair, accessible and reliable, confidence in institutions tends to be stronger. Social protection is not just a security network. It is a visible sign that the state works for all and not just for the few privileged ones. Governments that intend to effectively restore legitimacy should start here.
But protection must also be inclusive between generations. Throughout Europe, pension expenses continue to be high, while programs that young people depend – unemployment insurance, housing support, child care – are often sub -financed in all European countries.
The rapid aging of the European population means that in the near future, younger generations will be less at the polls. Policies should consciously take this disparity into account and ensure that young people are not set aside.
It is important to refer that young Europeans are not rejecting democracy because they prefer authoritarianism. They are rejecting a version that feels unresponsible, without ability to respond and unfair.
We have seen what happens when democratic decay is not controlled: divisions deepen, civic space decreases and authoritarianism is rooted.
Confidence can be rebuilt. But that requires political courage, inclusive institutions and social protection systems that reflect the reality of young people.
Democracy cannot function based on nostalgia. You have to prove that it works for everyone. Young people ask them to take them seriously, to listen to them, to respect them, and to be given a participation in the future. Society would do well in listening to them.
