In 2022, the renowned SORA Institute produced an interesting report on the topic of “Young People and Democracy in Austria. It confirms the assumption I described at the outset.
The report “Young People and Democracy in Austria 2022” by the SORA Institute looks at young people’s views on the political system and their participation in democratic processes. The study was conducted between September 7 and October 21 and included 323 participants aged 16 to 26. The results show that despite an easing of the pandemic situation, the mental health of many young people remains impaired. High inflation has also led to a deterioration in their financial situation, especially among those who already had fewer resources before the pandemic. This has led to a decline in trust in the political system.
Less than half of young people are currently convinced that the political system is functioning well. A large proportion even believe that democracy in Austria is rather weak. Trust in institutions such as parliament and the federal government has also declined. The effects of the crises have a negative impact on system trust. Young people affected by the impact of the crises have less trust. Moreover, few of them feel represented in parliament, which is related to lower trust in parliament. Economic uncertainty has a long-term impact on trust in the political system. Young people in financially precarious situations are more likely to feel that the political system does not function well. More than half of them consider democracy in Austria to be rather weak. In terms of media use, social media platforms, especially Instagram, have become the most important source of information on political issues. Newspapers are also used by about half of young people, and radio has regained importance compared to previous years. The top concerns of young people are inflation, climate change and economic inequality. About half discuss politics with family, friends or colleagues at least once a week. Young people’s political participation has remained constant. They mainly participate in elections and get involved in their immediate environment. About one-fifth are active in volunteer work, especially in the social sector and in blue-light organizations. However, just under one-fifth have had no contact with parliament or political events. Young people are critical of political education in schools. They complain that they are taught too little about the political system and how to conduct political debates, which is particularly important in times of crisis.
Young people are critical of political education in schools. They complain that they are taught too little about the political system and how to conduct political debates, which is particularly important in times of crisis.
SORA Institute – “Junge Menschen und Demokratie in Österreich 2022”