IU Study: Young people are the most satisfied with democracy in Germany
Representative survey by IU International University of Applied Sciences on the topic of "Democracy and Education".
- Just under half of respondents are generally “very” or “somewhat satisfied” with democracy in Germany, with Generation Z being the most satisfied. The preservation of democracy in Germany is “very” or “somewhat important” to over 90 per cent of respondents.
- Most respondents believe that the education system bears the main responsibility for teaching democratic values. Nevertheless, for most, education is no guarantee of a functioning democracy.
- Significantly more than half of Generation Z obtain information on political topics mainly via social media.
A recent study on "Democracy and Education" by IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU), the largest university in Germany with over 130,000 students, shows that just under half (47.9 percent) of respondents are “very” or “somewhat satisfied” with democracy in Germany. Among Generation Z, it is even more than half: 54.6 per cent of 16- to 25-year-olds express their satisfaction. In contrast, 48.5 per cent of all respondents are “somewhat” or “very dissatisfied”.
Prof. Dr Stefanie Kessler, professor of social work at IU International University of Applied Sciences and expert in democracy learning and political education, explains: "Young people are more satisfied with democracy because they experience democracy more frequently in educational contexts and thus their own effectiveness, even if it is not directly about big politics. These direct opportunities for participation have often been lacking among the older generation."
When it comes to teaching democratic values, 59.0 per cent of respondents believe that the education system is primarily responsible. 92.5 per cent of all respondents agree that preserving democracy in Germany is “very important” or “somewhat important”. This view is shared by all generations, from Generation Z to the baby boomers.
"How exactly the education system can exert influence is a key question. It is not enough to simply offer subjects such as politics, society or social studies. Educational institutions themselves must be designed as experiential spaces that support, enable and make democratic experiences and self-efficacy tangible," says Kessler.
Voting is popular, active engagement remains low
The majority of respondents (75.1 per cent) state that they vote regularly, followed by 60.3 per cent who inform themselves about political issues. 51.6 per cent discuss political issues with others, while 43.0 per cent sign petitions. Less common activities include discussing issues on social media (19.0 per cent), taking part in demonstrations (16.1 per cent) and contacting political representatives (11.0 per cent). 10.1 per cent state that they are generally not involved in politics. The results make it clear that voting is the most widespread form of political participation, while the opportunity to participate in other political activities such as demonstrations is less utilised.
Prof. Dr Alexandra Wuttig, chancellor of IU International University of Applied Sciences and professor of innovation and entrepreneurship, says: "It is important to re-establish the value and appreciation of democracy more firmly in society. This can be done through education, open discussion and active participation in democracy. It is crucial to make everyone aware of the value and importance of democracy and to encourage them to get involved."
Trust and inequality as central challenges of a democracy
Decreasing trust in politics is the most frequently mentioned answer by respondents (83.5 per cent) regarding the challenges in a democracy. The promotion of human rights was most frequently cited as an advantage by 87.0 per cent of respondents, followed by the opportunity for co-determination (85.7 per cent), the guarantee of freedom of opinion and the press (85.1 per cent), the expansion of peace (82.7 per cent) and the recognition of political diversity of opinion and discourse (79.0 per cent).
Education as the key to democracy?
When asked who is primarily responsible for teaching democratic values, 59.0 per cent of respondents cite the education system. However, there are differences between the generations: While baby boomers more often see their parents as having the main responsibility (57.9 per cent), for Generation Z it is the education system (60.8 per cent) and the media (51.5 per cent).
Overall, respondents inform themselves most frequently via news programmes on television (55.2 percent), followed by online news portals (47.8 percent). 58.8 per cent of young people up to the age of 25 cite social media as the main source they use when it comes to political (further) education.
In addition, 35.6 per cent of Generation Z say they have already used AI technologies such as ChatGPT as a source of political information. In the baby boomer generation, the figure is 11.6 per cent.
More than 4 out of 5 people in Germany believe that education can help them make informed decisions in elections. A lack of education is seen by 79.0 per cent of respondents as a potential threat to democracy. However, 66.6 per cent also agree with the statement that education is no guarantee for a functioning democracy.
Prof. Dr Stefanie Kessler says: "Making informed decisions in elections requires people to be able to make political judgements. Education should therefore take a holistic position. This means not only imparting knowledge about politics and the political system, but also enabling practical experience of participation in order to strengthen democratic values."
About the study
The "Democracy and Education" study by IU International University of Applied Sciences analyses satisfaction with democracy in Germany and the importance of education in obtaining information and making decisions. For the study, IU surveyed 1,213 people between the ages of 16 and 65, representative of the German population by age and gender. The survey was conducted from 17.05.2024 to 29.05.2024.
About the experts
Stefanie Kessler is professor of social work in the dual study programme at IU in Hannover. Her areas of research include learning about democracy and political education in fields of social work such as schools, open child and youth work, and youth and adult education.
Alexandra Wuttig is chancellor of IU and professor of entrepreneurship, innovation and law in the IU distance learning programme. She is an expert in political and social equality. In addition to her duties at IU, she is committed to equality for women and is co-founder of several start-ups.
In a 20-minute expert video, IU professors Stefanie Kessler and Alexandra Wuttig discuss and expand on the results of the study, provide in-depth insights and shed light on aspects relating to democracy and education. Click here for the interview: https://youtu.be/cAK9uNkTdq0
Weitere Informationen:
https://www.iu.de/en/research/studies/democracy-education-in-germany/
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