Young People Politically Marginalized Despite Their Civic Engagement

Young Europeans are calling for a profound change in economic and social models, yet they are living alongside a growing risk of regressive political backlash. This is what emerges from the second edition of the Allianz Foundation Next Generations Study, one of the largest surveys ever conducted on the new generations in Europe, carried out among more than 8,500 young people aged 16 to 39 in five EU countries: France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain.

The clearest finding is a European one: 65% of young people want a society that moves beyond traditional economic growth, prioritizing environmental sustainability, rights, democratic participation, and quality of life, even at the cost of compromises on consumption and the pace of development. At the same time, however, more than a quarter of young Europeans show openness toward nostalgic and regressive political views, which can put pressure on democratic principles.

The Italian case: less regressive nostalgia, more participation

Within the European picture, Italy stands out with a profile that runs counter to the trend. According to the study, Italian young people are the ones who feel most politically marginalized (53%), but they are also the least nostalgic for a supposedly “better” past in a regressive sense (17%) and the ones who express the lowest support for radical or violent tactics (5%).

Alongside these figures, a particularly significant element for democracy emerges: a high level of civic engagement. Nearly one young person in two (47%) in Italy has already taken part in collective action, a very marked increase compared to 2023. Participation in street protests rose from 26% to 43%, while other forms of action also remain widespread, such as voting (77%), signing petitions (64%), and civic initiatives (36%).

The causes that mobilize young Italians the most are human rights, climate and the environment, education, civil rights, and the fight against discrimination, confirming a strong demand for social justice and a stronger rule of law.

Backlash and democracy: a European risk not to be underestimated

The study also introduces a new analytical tool, the Backlash Barometer, which measures the spread of feelings of political exclusion, regressive nostalgia, discriminatory values, and openness to extraordinary tactics (such as violence or illegality).

At the European level, 11% of young people consider forms of political violence legitimate, and 25% accept at least some practices typical of backlash movements — a figure that represents a serious warning sign for European democracies.

The term “backlash” refers to a political strategy that exploits nostalgia to restore past — often idealized — social conditions, even at the expense of democratic principles such as non-violence or the rule of law. The backlash movements currently gaining ground come mainly from far-right movements that are openly regressive, populist, and at times authoritarian.

Within this context, Italy shows greater democratic resilience, helped also by lower levels of perceived polarization compared to the other countries analyzed, suggesting greater room for dialogue and the constructive involvement of the new generations.

CILD: investing in youth participation to strengthen democracy

“The Italian data show that, even in a context of strong political disillusionment, young people are not withdrawing from public life, but are seeking new tools for participation,” comments Laura Liberto of CILD – Italian Coalition for Civil Liberties and Rights. “This is a valuable signal: strengthening rights, participation, and access to democratic citizenship is the most effective response to the risk of regressive drift.”

“The study,” Laura Liberto adds, “confirms the urgency of public policies and civic spaces that recognize young people as political actors in their own right, not as passive recipients of decisions made from above. What is at stake is not only the future of the new generations, but the quality of democracy in Italy and in Europe.”

The full report is available at: https://next-generations-study.com/ A summary on Italy can be found at this link.