Two new reports, the Regional Youth Study 2024 for Southeast Europe and the Bosnia and Herzegovina Youth Report, reveal a significant distrust of democracy among youth across the region, with a shift toward authoritarian values. The studies, conducted by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in collaboration with the University of Sarajevo’s Faculty of Political Science, surveyed nearly 9,000 young people in 12 countries.

Regional coordinator Ema-Dzejna Smolo-Zukan noted that previous studies in 2015 and 2018 served as a foundation, intending to involve youth more deeply in decision-making. Lead author Professor Jasmin Hasanovic pointed out shared socioeconomic concerns as a unifying issue for youth across diverse backgrounds.

“Economic security is their biggest concern,” he stated, also noting an increased distrust in democracy since 2018. “This turn toward authoritarian practices could become a challenge for democracy if not managed constructively,” Hasanovic warned, adding that online activism has become popular yet lacks real impact and is often censored.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Professor Amer Osmic observed that young people hold a sceptical view of social institutions like education and healthcare.

“They see politics as corrupt and avoid it unless it serves personal interests, like securing employment,” Osmic said. He noted that BiH’s youth show a strong desire to emigrate but display low tolerance for incoming migrants, describing them as generally conservative on both political and social issues.

These findings underscore growing regional concerns, with young people increasingly critical of democratic systems and disillusioned with current socioeconomic prospects.