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Shell Youth Study 2019: Populism on the playground

2019-10-15T13:17:24.134Z


The new Shell Youth Study shows that even young people are prone to right-wing populism. Some statements are frightening - the results should make parents and teachers think.



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The old white man, known from radio and television symbol of uninhibitedness and perseverance, may soon retire early. Because according to the Shell Youth Study presented on Tuesday in Berlin, young people - regardless of gender or their origin - are prone to gross prejudice, racist exclusion and conspiracy theories.

More than two-thirds of young respondents agree wholeheartedly or partially with the statement that in Germany "nothing bad should be said about foreigners" without being labeled a racist. More than half say the government tends to keep silent about "the truth". And almost as many think that the state cares more about refugees than about "needy Germans".

Thud. The recently discovered generation of Greta seems to be obsolete. And all that, even though hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets in recent months for more climate protection, rescue or feminism. Is the youth in Germany mostly different? Maybe latent - or even open - right?

In fact, the populist finding in the study above all shows that even adolescents are aware of how they are being discussed around them. The populist answers reflect a social mood: the rougher tone in talk shows, social networks and at some family celebrations remains young people not hidden, on the contrary. That many take up this mood is frightening. But not as new as it seems.

Already during the past Shell youth studies, it became clear which fears were passed on at the evening table and in the school.

The economy of fears

In 2002, shortly after 9/11, "terrorist attacks" were the biggest concern. For the next eight years, fears over the "economic situation and rising poverty" remained in keeping with Hartz IV debates and crisis discussions. In the most recent study of 2015, it was terrorism again, this time shortly after the Paris attacks, that worried young people the most.

So now it's about populism on the playground. But even if the numbers are frightening, they can hardly be used as evidence of a right-millennial turn: still estimate 41 percent as left or left more, four percentage points more than in 2015. Only 13 percent consider themselves right or rather right , 77 percent are more or less satisfied with democracy. Incidentally, the biggest fear in 2019 is no longer terror but environmental pollution.

On the one hand, this shows that not every young person who considers himself progressive and enlightened is free from prejudice. But it also shows that many young people no longer seem to understand what the difference between contradiction and exclusion is. Especially when dealing with young people, it is therefore important to justify criticism not only reflexively, but also in terms of content. This is true not only in racist statements, but also for example in the climate dispute.

An unfair thought

It is, of course, a nice thought that it is precisely the youth with their commitment could save the whole world from right-wing populism and climate change. But it is also unfair, because those born after the year 2000 together make up about 18 percent of the population. Who belongs to it, will grow up between many old people and many new claims. There are hardly any niches, the Shell study notes. "It is becoming increasingly difficult for adolescents to develop an identity independent of commercialization," it says at one point.

The fact that the new numbers are causing quite a stir now, but not least, is probably due to the fact that the populism issues were asked for the first time in the Shell Youth Study. Therefore, they never had to answer older generations. Perhaps it is also better for the peace of society as a whole not to know how young people 15 years ago talked about the long-term unemployed and early retirees.

Above all, the results of the new study reflect what young people experience today in our society every day. But it would be dishonest to pretend that it was the fault of the youth not to be smarter than teachers and parents. That even frighteningly many Germans over 25 regularly exclude and devalue, no new studies must prove the Leipzig Center studies and similar surveys documenting it for a long time. Incidentally, this is where most of the populism questions in the Shell Youth Study come from.

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2019-10-15

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