This is a key finding from the representative study Next Generation, conducted by the Allianz Foundation, which was scheduled for presentation on Tuesday. A copy of the report was obtained by the Catholic News Agency (KNA) ahead of its release.
According to the data, there is a consensus on central themes regarding the future: a significant majority advocate for a new understanding of prosperity. Two-thirds of respondents associated this concept not only with economic growth and higher incomes but also with climate protection, educational opportunities, and expanded political participation.
Nostalgia for the Past Among Nearly One-Third of Respondents
Despite these progressive views, 28 percent of respondents expressed a longing for a supposedly better past characterized by lower migration levels and traditional gender roles. Millennials aged 30 to 39, in particular, desired a greater sense of national pride and wished for a less critical reflection on German history.
Simultaneously, feelings of frustration are on the rise: approximately 40 percent of young adults feel ignored in the political sphere. Nearly 60 percent perceive their generation as deeply divided. According to the study, extremist tendencies are reinforcing this trend: many young people approve of radical means to achieve political goals. Ten percent of respondents openly supported the use of online hate speech, illegal forms of protest, or violence against political officials. An additional eleven percent expressed partial agreement with such methods.
Germany is not alone in this regard when compared to its European neighbors. With a ten percent approval rate for violent actions, the country sits in the middle of the ranking—significantly higher than Italy (five percent) but lower than France (17 percent). In France, more than one-third of young people also advocated for a return to old social structures.
Political Engagement and Diversity
In Germany, 97 percent of young people demonstrate individual engagement, such as voting, practicing conscious consumerism, or making donations. Furthermore, 43 percent are active collectively in initiative groups or demonstrations. The political landscape of this demographic is heterogeneous: 13 percent hold leftist views, 17 percent identify with the center, and 13 percent align themselves with right-wing or regressive movements.
The Allianz Foundation conducted this study for the second time. In 2025, the organization surveyed individuals aged 16 to 39 in Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and Spain. These countries represent approximately 65 percent of this age group within the European Union, with 23 million residing in Germany alone.
Source: KNA
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