Democracy on the Edge: Young Europeans Losing Faith as the EU Struggles with Its Own Problems!
Is democracy in Europe just an illusion? A new study conducted by the TUI Foundation in partnership with YouGov delivers a cold splash of reality to the optimism about democracy’s future among young people. While 57% of Europeans aged 16 to 26 say they support democracy more than any other form of government, nearly half (48%) believe democracy in their country is under threat.
Where Did the Faith in Democracy Go? Young Germans show the highest trust in democracy — a whopping 71% support it, while Poles are at the other end with only 48% backing the system. But here’s the kicker: 21% of young people say that under certain circumstances, they would prefer authoritarian rule over democracy! Is this a sign that democracy is slowly turning into something young people neither want nor understand?
Shifts to the Right and Left – What Does It Mean? Over the past four years, more young people have identified as center-right, rising from 14% to 19%. Among those feeling economically insecure, support for democracy drops to just one-third. On the flip side, countries like Germany, France, and Italy see a rise in young people identifying as center-left.
European Union – Good Idea, Poor Execution? Only 51% of young people think the EU is a good idea but poorly implemented. Greeks are the most skeptical, with 63% agreeing. Forty percent believe the EU is not particularly democratic, and 53% think the Union focuses too much on trivial matters instead of real problems like the cost-of-living crisis, defense, and better business conditions. Still, a majority (66%) support EU membership, and in the UK, 73% of young people would like to rejoin.
What Do the Experts Say? Professor Torsten Fas from the Free University of Berlin warns that democracy is under pressure both from outside and within. TUI Foundation director Elke Hlaoček adds that the European project has brought peace and progress for decades but now seems slow and outdated.
Immigration and Growing Criticism Young Europeans are becoming more critical of immigration — 38% now support stricter immigration policies, up from 26% a few years ago.
The Bottom Line? Democracy in Europe is not in great shape, and young people are growing more skeptical. Is this the beginning of the end or just a phase every democracy must go through? One thing is clear — if economic problems aren’t solved and trust in institutions isn’t restored, democracy might become just another word in a textbook.
So, what about you? Do you still believe in democracy, or are you ready to try something else? Drop a comment and let’s see who’s in and who’s out — maybe we’ll be surprised!
