Radical or apathetic? European young people’s political views revealed

YOUNG people in the UK appear to be among the most politically active in Europe, according to new research.

Academics from Manchester Metropolitan University are part of the MyPlace project, which is studying how young people in Europe are affected by the shadows of totalitarianism and populism in Europe.

They have found that young people in carefully selected locations in the UK and Germany are the most likely to take part in traditional political participation, for instance contacting politicians or local councillors or distributing leaflets with political content.

There is also bad news for Nigel Farage, as young people in the UK have a relatively positive attitude towards the European Union, with 61.5% of those asked in Coventry agreeing that membership of the EU benefits this country, and 58% of those in Nuneaton saying the same.

Who is happy - and who is not?

Across Europe, young people in Germany, Finland and Denmark are the happiest with their political systems, with teenagers from the areas studied in these countries being the least receptive to the radical right, least cynical about their politicians and with the highest levels of trust in their political institutions.

Young people in the Greek research sites are the most cynical in the study when it comes to politicians and politics, have the least trust in political institutions, see the least benefit from being members of the EU and are among the most likely to take part in political protest.

It should be noted that the survey was carried out during 2013 when austerity measures were already acute.

The research questioned young people from 30 locations across Europe, in countries including Spain, Germany, Greece, Russia and the UK.

Geographic differences

Prof Gary Pollock, head of sociology at Manchester Metropolitan University, who coordinated the survey, said: “It is clear that there are widespread geographic differences in both young people’s political engagement and in their political views which suggests that local and national historical factors are highly important.”

This research project is led by Prof Hilary Pilkington, from the University of Manchester and contributes to the EU Youth Report 2015.

Prof Pilkington said: “The MyPlace research demonstrates that while young people may use their headphones to shut out the ‘meaningless chatter’ of party politics, it does not mean they do not care about issues facing society. Interviews and ethnographic research with young people across Europe that followed the survey research show that young people are civically and politically engaged even if they consciously choose to dissociate that activism with ‘politics’.”

The report can be downloaded from http://www.mmuperu.co.uk/publications/myplace-thematic-report

Notes to editors

For further information, or to interview Prof Gary Pollock, contact Kat Dibbits in the Manchester Metropolitan University press office on 0161 247 5278 or email K.Dibbits@mmu.ac.uk