We often say that young people aren’t just the future of democracy – they’re very much its present. A new report from CIRCLE at Tufts University and Protect Democracy takes this idea to heart, offering a deeper, more nuanced understanding of how Generation Z views democracy in the United States.
In a new report, researchers surveyed young Americans nationwide and found that Gen Z’s views on democracy fall into three distinct profiles. Together, these offer caution, hope, and a clear call to action:
›› Passive Appreciation (63 percent of youth):
This majority group values democratic principles, trusts institutions, and rejects political violence. However, their engagement tends to stop at the ballot box. While their trust in the system is encouraging, it may also lead to complacency unless we help connect them with deeper civic opportunities.
›› Dismissive Detachment (31 percent):
These youth don’t see democracy as delivering on its promises. They show less support for its principles and are more open to authoritarian alternatives. While they vote at rates similar to their peers, they’re less likely to participate in other civic activities, often because they haven’t been given the support, skills, or encouragement.
›› Hostile Dissatisfaction (7 percent):
This small but influential group values democracy’s ideals — but is deeply frustrated by its failures. They’re highly civically engaged, even as their dissatisfaction sometimes leads them to support political violence to achieve change. These youth often have strong civic skills and a deep hunger for reform, making them powerful and potentially volatile.
So what does all this mean for those who believe in strengthening democracy? CIRCLE and Protect Democracy offer two big takeaways.
›› While young people may be critical of how democracy works today, most still believe in its core principles.
›› Their civic attitudes are shaped less by who they are and more by what they’ve experienced: whether they’ve been encouraged to participate, whether they’ve been taught how democracy works, and whether they’ve had a chance to build civic skills.
That’s where we all come in. If we want Gen Z to be democracy’s champions, we must ensure democracy shows up for them. That means:
›› Empowering youth to lead the changes they want to see;
›› Expanding access to civic education and engagement opportunities;
›› Addressing disparities in civic development, especially along socioeconomic lines and
›› Creating space for young people to collaborate across political and ideological differences.
Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach — that’s the point. Each group brings different strengths, and each deserves to be heard. This report reminds us that Gen Z is not a monolith and that understanding these distinctions is key to building a more inclusive, responsive, and resilient democracy.
Read the report: How Does Gen Z Feel About Democracy?
