The Destruction of Democracy Series: New UK research reveals worrying trend of growing support for strong leadership without parliament and elections – but a deeper understanding of the concerns of the younger generation could change that
By Melissa Butcher, Emeritus Professor of Social and Cultural Geography, Royal Holloway University, London
New research by the British Broadcasting Network Channel 4 Reveals a worrying trend of increasing support for authoritarianism among young people in the UK. The report “Generation Z: Trends, Truth and Trust” found that 52% of 2,000 young people aged 13–27 surveyed agreed with the statement: "Britain would be better off with a strong leader who doesn't have to deal with parliament and elections."
This finding is consistent with a study conducted in 2023 by Open Society Foundations, a pro-democracy organization, which found that 42% of young people in its global sample believed that military rule was a good way to run a country. Other studies have shown that many young people feel disillusioned with the democratic system.
While these findings are concerning, Generation Z should not be seen as inherently anti-democratic. Understanding the reasons for this phenomenon is essential if we are to encourage young people to take an active part in democracy.
Listening to Generation Z
within Cumberland Lodge, an educational organization dedicated to promoting social dialogue, we are working with young people across the UK on a national network for youth and democracy, with the aim of rethinking the future of politics in the country.
Our team conducted 12 focus groups with 101 young people to examine the factors that prevent them from participating in democratic processes. Through this research, we are working with a core group of young people to develop their capacities to participate in the reshaping of democracy.
What we are learning is that young people’s disengagement from politics is not necessarily a result of apathy or opposition to democracy. They are actually interested in participating in politics, but they feel a deep distrust. They see politicians as people who promote their own personal and corporate interests rather than the public good, and who fail to deliver on promises on issues that directly affect their lives.
Trust and a sense of vulnerability
The lack of support from the political system makes young people feel vulnerable, especially in light of recurring global crises. In their lifetimes, they have seen the world deal with a global financial crisis, a global pandemic, and a war in Europe. They are also forced to deal with housing shortages, lack of mental health support, the climate crisis, changing artificial intelligence technologies, and shifts in social identity.
They experience the system as “elitist” – a system that is supposed to serve everyone, but in practice excludes the sectors most affected by these crises. This undermines their faith in democracy.
However, this is not an inevitable process. Research by Open Society Foundations It found that 86% of young people sampled still prefer to live in a democracy.
Also in the study of Channel 4, 73% of Gen Z believe that democracy is a “very good” or “fairly good” way to govern in the UK. Furthermore, young people are interested in learning about democracy and the democratic decision-making process.
How do you involve young people?
To enable young people to take part, there needs to be access to political and media education that will build their knowledge and confidence. Investing in democratic education is essential, as many of the young people we interviewed indicated that they wanted to participate, but felt overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. Liam from Sunderland said:
"Most of our peers are not educated about democracy and politics. It's knowledge that is limited to certain groups. We are taught that we have no control over the situation, so it's better not to worry about it at all."
Young people want political representatives who understand their daily realities. As Chloe from Liverpool argued:
"They will come to talk to us, but not to listen. They come so they can say later, 'I talked to young people.'"
Many of the young people in our Democracy Network are calling for reforms in the political system that would allow for change: a new voting system or an exploration of forms of direct democracy.
But above all, what we discovered in this study is that young people can change their perceptions of political power. Democracy is not just a system of government, but also the way we organize ourselves, communicate with each other, act on social issues, and build consensus.
In this sense, democracy is not just something external and unattainable, but also something that can develop when young people come together.
If we improve democratic education and create a system that listens to and engages young people, we can help Gen Z reimagine a democracy that will give them a future. At that point, they might stop saying they prefer authoritarianism.
More of the topic in Hayadan: (Beresheet is the Hebrew name for the book of Genesis)
