Eight out of ten openly question whether their generation should have children

Young adults in Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom share a deep sense of anxiety about the future. 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.

Although Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland and the UK differ in terms of their economic conditions, political landscapes and historical trajectories, the young adults surveyed in these countries show more similarities than differences. This 'European' perspective also extends to what young adults see as a desirable future society.

Nearly three out of four (71%) strongly agree that a robust social welfare state and an independent justice system should be the fundamental building block of a future society.

Fifty-two percent of young adults seek a fair and eco-friendly future with equal opportunities for minorities and the less privileged, not only in education and employment, but also in sharing the responsibilities of the green transition.

Strong democratic institutions, including a free press and a participatory political system are prioritized by 47% of young adults.

Overall, there is less agreement among young adults when it comes to personal wealth, military strength and traditional values. While some identify these as a priority (35%), most do not. Personal wealth, in particular, is a highly divisive issue.

These are the aspects that young adults view as relevant for the future they want:

By and large, young adults want to live in a future society that is safe, affordable, eco-friendly and fair. Yet, they feel that the conditions for building that future are under threat. Although there is some cautious optimism regarding ecological developments and opportunities for migrants and other minorities, in most other regards all five countries are expected to decline over the next 10 years.

Besides this trend (though this is mostly not directly connected to climate action) many fear that the gap between rich and poor will grow (59%), in part due to rising energy, food and transportation costs, which two out of three young adults expect. These perceived risks likely explain why a robust social welfare state remains crucial for most.

Civic engagement has many faces — ranging from more formalized acts such as voting to more “hands-on” collective actions like joining a protest march to less visible everyday efforts like shopping and travelling in ways that are less harmful to people and the planet. While all modes of engagement can potentially impact policies and public sentiments, well-coordinated collective actions are often more effective.

On an individual level, a majority of young adults in all five countries are already active. Many vote (76%, on average), donate money or things (63%), boycott products with a bad ecological footprint (45%) and share their political opinions with those in their social circle and at work (60% and 44%, respectively). Compared to these individual actions, team efforts are few and far between, though: On average, more than 70% of young adults have never joined a protest march or demonstration, and just as many have never participated in a citizens’ initiative — even though the majority of them call for more grassroots efforts. When addressing this ambivalence and asking about their willingness to get involved, about a quarter of the population express an interest in doing so — in addition to the 25% to 30% who are already active, thus growing the potential recruitment pool for collective action to about 50% of young adults in Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland and the UK, an invaluable asset for a resilient civil society. 

Yet, given young adults’ deep anxieties about their country’s future, these numbers beg the following questions:
 

• Does their current involvement align with their concerns about pressing issues such as climate change, social inequality and material insecurity? 
   
• Are the current modes of engagement suitable for an age group which more than any other “lives” online and is used to being given ample opportunities for co-creation?
   
• And, most importantly: Why do young adults take civic action? Why not?

The Why: A Call of Duty and Personal Growth. 

Why do young adults take civic action?

The Why Not: No Idea, No Desire, Too Risky

Why do young adults not take civic action?

“Political Camps” As a Risk Factor and a Solution

The study identifies six types of civically engaged young adults across the five countries. 

The study identifies six types of civically engaged young adults across the five countries: Those who have, so far, taken little to no civic action can be allocated to three groups: Eleven percent belong to the politically left-leaning Hesitant Progressives who have yet to act on their pronounced concerns about environmental and social justice. Likewise, members of the sizable Quiet Mainstream (33%) are mostly inactive, but also less politically interested. Their counterparts to the right are the Passive Traditionalists (8%) who, despite their strong religious affiliations, are not particularly involved.

The other three groups comprise the civically engaged population. The largest is the Proactive Center (24%), whose affiliates are less driven by any particular issue, but are nonetheless willing to be involved. The youngest and most left-leaning group as well as the group with the highest overall level of civic engagement are the Progressive Movers (14%), who are strongly dedicated to climate action and the rights of disenfranchised groups, including migrants and the LGBTQI+ community. Their counterparts on the right are referred to as Conservative Campaigners (10%). The members of this group tend to promote traditional values and personal wealth. They are more organized and less afraid of physical violence or legal risks.

The juxtaposition between these Progressive Movers and the Conservative Campaigners alone indicates a potential for conflict that is fueled by deep disagreements over wedge issues such as migration. Nevertheless, each group also serves as a “safe space” for like-minded individuals, sheltering them from outside attacks by state authorities, online trolls and others who disagree with them. Thus, they also help mitigate the risks to which “their” people are exposed and thereby encourage civic engagement.

Although their contrasting ideological positions may suggest there is little room for constructive dialogue, the survey results indicate several windows of opportunity, as both groups show significant agreement on issues such as citizen participation, green infrastructure and work–family policies.

Are young adults truly the “movers of tomorrow”? The answer is “yes — potentially". But they cannot single-handedly change the course their societies will take. Not least because of the risks and disadvantages that to this day prevent many young adults from getting involved.

To learn more about what exactly is needed to unleash the civic potential of young adults, the Allianz Foundation invited 78 leading voices from civil society, the arts and journalism to seven interactive Future Labs in seven European cities — Athens, Berlin, Istanbul, London, Palermo, Warsaw and Prizren in Kosovo. Valuable lessons emerged from them, including the need to craft more compelling change narratives, address burnout, create and defend safe spaces and foster dialogue among young adults, civil society and its public and private funders. All the insights and recommendations are detailed in the Allianz Foundation Future Labs report, which is available to download here.

Project Lead and Chief Editor
Dr. Simon Morris-Lange
(Allianz Foundation)

© Allianz Foundation, Berlin October 2023

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