Only one in three young men in Catalonia prefer democracy as a system
29% of the general population supports limiting the right to vote
BarcelonaNew data paints a picture of the rise of reactionary and far-right views among young people: only one in three men aged 18 to 24 prefer democracy in any other system, and 23% neither agree nor disagree with that premise. This is according to a survey by the Catalan International Institute for Peace (ICIP), published this Monday, which also indicates that 27% of young men believe that gender-based violence is an invention of feminism, while 60% think that feminism is harming relationships between people of different genders. Among women of the same age, this percentage drops to 24%. During the presentation of the study, UPF political scientist Toni Rodon, one of the survey coordinators, cautioned about the rejection of democracy: "It doesn't necessarily mean they are anti-democratic, since older people have a more limited understanding of democracy than young people." In this sense, "this doesn't mean that they would destroy democracy and put a dictator in power right now," Rodon pointed out, but rather that factors such as disillusionment with the future, lack of opportunities, and political disaffection are also involved.
Beyond young people, the study indicates that 29% of citizens believe voting rights should be limited, citing manipulation and political ignorance within society. Trust in institutions—from local government to the EU—remains below a passing grade, and 79% of those surveyed believe there are insufficient mechanisms to force the resignation of politicians who fail to keep their promises.
The data presented in the survey are a "warning sign," explained Kristian Herbolzheimer, director of ICIP, "but not a cause for extreme alarm; rather, they indicate the need for action on several fronts." For Herbolzheimer, this is a "reasonable reaction in a context where the outlook is bleak," and he pointed out that "there is room for public institutions to act" and address "structural violence" and problems such as difficulties in accessing housing, which he attributed to the underlying causes.
Punitivism against crime?
In the social sphere, the Catalan independence process, the language of everyday use, and immigration are tied as issues that citizens perceive as most polarizing the community. However, when asked about personal concerns, among the questions posed by the researchers, Catalonia-Spain relations rank last. Crime, economic and financial crises, the climate emergency, and access to basic goods and services top the list.
The study paints a picture of a punitive stance in Catalan society, with 63% supporting harsher penalties as a way to reduce crime. However, when asked if they would be willing to sacrifice any rights or freedoms in exchange for greater security, while 30% are in favor, a majority (47%) reject it, "which is more in line with anti-punitive policies," Rodon noted.
This dual interpretation (between a punitive and a more anti-punitive society) demonstrates, according to the political scientist, the importance of how questions and issues are framed on the public agenda. Another example is when people are asked about evictions: only a third of Catalans agree with evicting people who cannot pay their rent. However, if the question is about jobs and the term "illegal" is included, 8 out of 10 respondents support evicting the building's occupants.
Against increased military spending
The survey also reveals that the Catalan population does not support the NATO initiative promoted by Donald Trump for member countries of the Atlantic Alliance to increase military spending to 5% of GDP. In fact, 30% of Catalans believe that current spending is insufficient. which in Spain stands at 2%34% consider it excessive, and only 18% deem it adequate. This latter percentage, however, has increased by 10 points compared to 2023. In this case, the number of young people aged 18 to 24 who prioritize international cooperation over increased military spending stands at 42%, while the percentage for the rest of the age group is 3%. At the other extreme, those who prioritize military spending over international cooperation represent 24% among the youngest. Among people aged 25 to 64, however, the percentage drops to around 15% in all cases, and among those over 65, just under one in ten prefers the militaristic approach.
