Has the state given up on young people?

Photo:Marin Tironi/PIXSELL

The relationship between young people and politicians is based on mistrust and doubts about the effectiveness of the state elite. It is well known that there is a high level of skepticism towards politicians by different generations. Many think that society as a whole does not care enough about the present and future of young people who, as the saying goes, will inherit the earth. In a one-on-one discussion entitled “A nation with young people like this… !”, Damir Jugo, dean of Edward Bernays University College; and Boris Jokić, director of the Institute for Social Research in Zagreb; commented on the impact of politics on youth.

An esteemed psychologist, Jokić emphasized that we do not care enough about the future of this sensitive group of people who will one day become advocates and implementers of positive changes in society. “There are young people who anticipate future jobs really well. The aspiration profile of young people in Croatia is better than, say, in Norway. People with such affinities should be taken under our wing and we should invest in their development.”

Jugo pointed out that young people are becoming more liberal and that it would be logical for politicians to follow trends and understand exactly what people want and adjust their policies accordingly. Jokić agreed, however, he made it known that on the one hand there is reality, and on the other there is what should have been done a long time ago. It is precisely for this reason that it seems like Croatia takes its young people for granted, according to the director of the institute.

“Politics has given up on young people. Society has given up on them too. Politicians are upset that they cannot reach young people because they think stereotypically. They think that young people are just a TikTok generation,” said Jokić.

“Almost 50 percent of young people have a clear plan and desire to leave the country. Young people consider other countries to be more positive than Croatia. If the public and politicians in the media fail to properly promote our country, it should come as no surprise that the majority remain indignant about the subject,” he concluded.