Over the past two years, waves of youth protests have swept across the world. From South Asia to North America and Africa, record numbers of young people have taken to the streets to rally against endemic corruption and rising inequality. In 2025, the ‘Year of Protest’, demonstrations and movements led by Gen Z activists were instrumental in toppling governments in Nepal and Madagascar, while anti‑government rallies in Kenya, campus movements in the United States and student protests in Serbia attracted global attention. Across different political contexts, calls for change from young people have grown louder. But do they feel those calls are being heard?
Against this backdrop, Chatham House carried out its first youth barometer survey, canvassing more than 160 young people from 60 countries; the gender split was roughly a third male and two‑thirds female. We asked them how they engage in politics, the risks and opportunities involved and whether they feel they have any political influence. Many are involved in politics. Although some say such involvement carries risks, they are not without hope for the future and their ability to influence it.
Respondents were drawn from members of Chatham House’s Common Futures Conversations (CFC), an online community of young people aged between 18 and 30 working to develop policy solutions to global challenges and help combat the feeling of youth powerlessness. CFC members participate in monthly policy discussions where they can meet government officials and experts in the field. The current cohort includes more than 1,500 participants from more than 130 countries.
Here’s what the young people of Common Futures Conversations told us about their political hopes and fears.
Political participation: Constraints and risks
Political change: Hopes and opportunities
Media and misinformation
**Five most popular answers
*Respondents were asked to what extent they agreed with the statement on a scale of 1 to 7 (from strongly disagree to strongly agree). The result given aggregates the percentage of those who indicated 5, 6 or 7
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