Exploring democracy in the new global disorder: Political participation, perceived political opportunities, and attitudes toward the European Union among Italian youth

This study examines political participation, perceptions of political opportunities, and attitudes toward the European Union among young people in Italy. The empirical analysis is based on data collected by IPSOS for the Istituto Toniolo through a survey conducted in April-May 2024 on a representative sample of 2,000 individuals aged 18-34. The findings challenge narratives of widespread youth disengagement. Young Italians display substantial levels of political engagement across a variety of participatory repertoires, particularly non-institutional forms that increasingly combine online and offline activities. At the same time, participation coexists with a diffuse perception of limited political opportunities for youth. Regarding the European dimension, respondents express moderately positive attitudes toward the EU, although significant differences emerge by educational attainment, which represents the main cleavage across indicators of trust, perceived usefulness, and support for further integration. Overall, the results suggest that contemporary youth engagement is shaped not only by available opportunities for participation but also by the perceptions, resources, and experiences through which young people relate to national and European political institutions.