Human Rights & Democracy
The Glass Half-Full: Democracy and Human Rights for Gen Z in the USA
Summary
Growing up with the internet and new forms of communication and information sharing, today’s youth seem to face a future that is difficult to predict. “Gen Z” is grappling with a world that has yet to live up to the expectations set forth in the aftermath of World War II in achieving international and sustainable peace, security, and development.
As part of a wider survey, this paper focuses on the results related to the United States of America (USA). What does American Gen Z think about human rights and democracy? Despite initial assumptions of a deep polarization of thoughts and opinions, the survey reveals insightful findings that provides opportunities to level the field of our political systems.
Trump and Harris voters, along with nonvoters, agree more often than not on the essential nature and aspirations of rights-based democratic government. Values such as freedom and justice remain constant and provide entry points to these subjective assessments on democracy and human rights. Their answers around universality, as well as situational awareness, demonstrate their attachment to a value system based on freedom and equality.
There was also consensus found on the importance of rights and freedoms, albeit with slight differences pertaining to political orientation. This interconnectedness of thoughts and perceptions can be correlated with the ways in which Gen Z communicate with each other, across states and in increasingly intertwined realities.
Despite consuming different media and platforms, youth across the aisle also share a sobering assessment of challenges facing human rights internationally and in the country. Their assessment of their democracy also indicate closer opinions than initially expected. Although the political divide provides nuances to some answers, the vast majority of American Gen Z seems informed, aware, and highly sensitive of the need to protect human rights.
When lived experiences do not meet the expectations of what a democracy should provide, offering a moral compass that is driven by consistent values can appeal to disenchanted young citizens across political divides.
