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Over 80% of young Germans fear war in Europe, poll suggests

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Over 80% of young Germans fear war in Europe, poll suggests
Photo for illustrative purposes. People take selfies in front of the landmark Brandenburg Gate illuminated in the colors of the Ukrainian flag in Berlin, Germany on May 9, 2022, to show solidarity with Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion. (John Macdougall /AFP via Getty Images)

Ongoing wars, the worsening effects of climate change, and increasing political polarization are major concerns for young people in Germany, according to the latest Shell Youth Study.

The 2024 edition, titled "Pragmatism Between Disillusionment and Embracing Diversity," surveyed 2,509 adolescents aged 12 to 25 about their views on politics, society, and the environment.

In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 81% of young respondents expressed concern about the possibility of war in Europe, a sharp rise from 46% in 2019. The fear of poverty also increased, with 67% citing it as a concern, compared to 52% in 2019.

The ongoing conflicts, including Russia's war in Ukraine and the recent Hamas attack on Israel, have shifted perspectives. According to the study, 69% of young people aged 15 to 25 support a strong NATO presence, with only 6% opposed. These opinions show little variation between youths in former East and West Germany.

"Young people have realized that world politics is not somewhere out there, it cannot be avoided any longer," said Mathias Albert, political scientist at the University of Bielefeld and one of the study’s authors, Deutsche Welle (DW) reported.

Regarding Russia's aggression, 60% of 15 to 25-year-olds agreed that "Russia attacked Ukraine and must be punished for it," while only 13% disagreed. However, opinions on military support for Ukraine are divided: 50% want Germany to provide military aid, while 24% reject it, with noticeable differences between East and West Germany.

Scholz unveils $1.5 billion allied aid package during meeting with Zelensky
During a joint press conference, Scholz revealed that Germany has already delivered a package of aid for Ukraine worth 600 million euros ($660 million).
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Olena Goncharova

Head of North America desk

Olena Goncharova is the Head of North America desk at The Kyiv Independent, where she has previously worked as a development manager and Canadian correspondent. She first joined the Kyiv Post, Ukraine's oldest English-language newspaper, as a staff writer in January 2012 and became the newspaper’s Canadian correspondent in June 2018. She is based in Edmonton, Alberta. Olena has a master’s degree in publishing and editing from the Institute of Journalism in Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv. Olena was a 2016 Alfred Friendly Press Partners fellow who worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for six months. The program is administered by the University of Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia.

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