Interview, Lecture
Will young people let democracy die?
- Younger generations, particularly those aged 18 to 35, are increasingly dissatisfied with democracy, with a majority in this cohort now expressing dissatisfaction at a younger age than previous generations; in the United States, 43% of 18- to 35-year-olds believe military rule or non-elected leadership could be effective, while Millennials (aged 28–43) have long held cynical views regarding democratic functionality.
- In nations that transitioned to democracy in the 1980s and 1990s across Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia, a younger generation is fundamentally disillusioned with democratic parties and elites for failing to fulfill transition-era promises, contributing to a shift from democratic apathy to "democratic antipathy."
- Approximately 86% of respondents across 30 countries express a desire to live in a democratic state, yet this majority preference contrasts with rising support for populist leaders who are perceived by youth as more engaging than centrists and associated with higher short-term satisfaction.
- Populist governance is characterized by immediate fiscal and monetary stimuli, such as tax cuts and spending increases, which frequently precipitate crises one to three terms later, leading to a subsequent rapid decline in both support for populist leaders and satisfaction with democratic institutions.
- Political outsiders on both the left and right are successfully mobilizing previously disconnected youth, creating a risk that apathy will allow would-be autocrats to gradually erode checks and balances without active resistance.
- Research indicates that while democracy remains functional, the overall fabric of democratic societies faces weakening due to the availability of younger generations to be mobilized by anti-system actors and the trend toward democratic antipathy.