According to Next Generations report, by the Allianz Foundation eight out of 10 openly question whether their generation should have children, as many believe their societies will become less livable in the future. They feel that their countries are becoming less equal, less safe and more divided, and they want to have a say in how these issues and other pressing concerns are addressed. But how are they making their voices heard? The vast majority are taking individual and everyday actions, such as voting and changing what they eat and how they shop and travel. However, only few of them have so far chosen to amplify their individual voices and exert more pressure on decision-makers through collective action, for example by joining a social movement.
To learn more about how young adults imagine and shape a livable future society, the Allianz Foundation commissioned the SINUS Institute with conducting a representative survey among 10,000 young adults (aged 18 to 39) in Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland and the UK — five countries that reflect Europe’s diverse realities on much-discussed issues such as minority rights, anti-democratic tendencies and climate action.
Young adults in Greece express more emphatic priorities than young adults in the other countries surveyed, focusing on child-friendliness, high-paying job opportunities, and strong economic growth as essential to daily living and economic viability. They also see climate friendliness and low inequality as very important to the future they want to live in.
Lack of trust in justice
In Greece, young people have a very low level of trust in government and the media, with only a third (as opposed to an average of 45%) believing that their government will take a leading role in solving social and environmental issues. This belief has led many of the young people to participate in protests, more so than in other countries surveyed. On top of that, 38% show a very high distrust of politicians (compared to an average of 20% across countries) and an impressive 58% are completely convinced that the media promotes and serves their own interests rather than recording and to present the facts.
Also, young Greeks seem to be proactive towards social problems and labor issues, with a higher percentage than their peers in the rest of the countries taking individual actions, such as adjusting the use or consumption of energy, defending labor issues (58% vs. 44% on average) or even choosing or changing their workplace for ethical reasons (37% vs. 22% on average). Donating money or goods (78%) and boycotting socially and environmentally irresponsible products (54%) are also found more regularly in Greece than in the whole sample (63% and 45%, respectively).δωρεά χρημάτων ή αγαθών (78%) και το μποϊκοτάζ κοινωνικά και περιβαλλοντικά ανεύθυνων προϊόντων (54%) συναντώνται επίσης πιο τακτικά στην Ελλάδα από ό,τι στο σύνολο του δείγματος (63% και 45%, αντίστοιχα).
Esra Kücük, CEO, Allianz Foundation commented: «Young adults in Europe feel that their societies are in a state of transition and that they are in a waiting room to the future that is marked by profound uncertainties and a lack of leadership. Young Europeans are united by their anxiety about the future. Eight out of 10 young adults question whether their generation should have children, and many believe their societies will become less equal, less safe and more divided. That outlook is deeply troubling, especially considering young adults’ high level of mistrust of the government, organized civil society and other established institutions. But there are also encouraging findings: The young adults in Generation Z and Y are much more similar than they are different. Above all, they want a secure, fair and climate-friendly society. Most are already taking individual action. But when it comes to amplifying their individual voices and joining others to pull together, much potential is yet to be tapped. When young adults think about civic engagement, they often think of the risks and disadvantages.».
