Age, gender, education, income and other individual characteristics provide some insights into who is in which camp. However, even more so it is young adults’ individual political beliefs and their willingness to take risks that directly affect their civic action.
As in other European countries, young adults in Germany have low trust in institutions, but it is still slightly higher than elsewhere. They put more emphasis on democratic institutions while economic anxiety is paired with mixed feelings about the climate. Individual action is their preferred means of civic engagement.
Young adults in Greece show a lack of faith in the status quo. They put more emphasis on economic well-being, but not at the expense of fairness or the environment. Their expected future: economic decline and democratic backsliding. But they are ready to take collective civic action.
Overall, the future outlooks and civic actions of young adults in Italy closely align with those of their peers in Germany, Greece, Poland and the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, there are a few areas in which young adults in Italy differ from those in the other countries surveyed.
Young adults in Poland are more conservative than the average, but with strong concerns about democracy. However, this does not necessarily go hand-in-hand with democratic backsliding. Young Poles are among the most convinced in the sample that strong democratic institutions are critical to a good life, as is an independent justice system or media.
Due to its ethnic and cultural diversity, UK respondents express relatively progressive attitudes toward migration. But does this also mean that they experience less discrimination? Explore more.