Friday, 27 February 2026<\/strong><\/span> Mapping Youth: Patterns, Representations and Limits of Youth Culture and Politicization<\/strong><\/p>\n The Nikos Poulantzas Institute<\/strong> and The Left in the European Parliament<\/strong> invite you to a public discussion on young people in contemporary Greek society. The event aims to shed light on the perceptions, expectations and dead ends faced by a generation experiencing a multidimensional crisis.<\/p>\n Nikos Tzimas<\/strong> Katerina Iliou<\/strong> Panagiotis Koustenis<\/strong> Katerina Lamprinou<\/strong> Ilirinta Mousarai<\/strong> Charalampos Poulopoulos<\/strong> Maria Repousi<\/strong> Kostas Arvanitis<\/strong> The discussion will focus on the findings of a qualitative study conducted by Prorata in November 2025<\/strong> on behalf of the Nikos Poulantzas Institute<\/strong> and The Left in the European Parliament<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The research examines the perceptions and expectations of young people aged 17\u201335<\/strong> regarding Europe, the Left and political participation.<\/p>\n Young people today experience a prolonged \u201cyouth without rewards,\u201d<\/strong> where the thresholds of adulthood remain closed. According to the research, they face five critical challenges on a daily basis:<\/p>\n Severe and continuously rising cost of living<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Work that does not provide sufficient income<\/strong> for a decent life<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Housing crisis<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Lack of quality free time<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Increasing sense of social isolation<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n 17%<\/strong> work with temporary contracts or without a contract<\/p>\n<\/li>\n 92%<\/strong> believe wages are too low<\/p>\n<\/li>\n 65%<\/strong> receive financial support from their families<\/p>\n<\/li>\n 44%<\/strong> say they are little or not at all satisfied with their lives<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Only 31%<\/strong> believe the future will be positive<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Young people are forced to mature and become more cynical than their parents were at the same age. At the same time, however, they cannot truly enter adulthood: they lack stable employment, cannot afford independent housing, and struggle to believe in a better future.<\/p>\n Despite pessimism about Greece, 61% say they prefer to remain in the country<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Young people\u2019s perception of Europe has changed dramatically. Europe is no longer viewed as a dream but rather as a last resort<\/strong>. Many express concerns about:<\/p>\n Racism and anti-immigration policies<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The threat of war<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Social alienation and loss of identity<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n For young people with left-wing political beliefs<\/strong>, politics concerns all aspects of society and everyday life.<\/p>\n For those leaning towards the right<\/strong>, politics is mainly associated with the state, political parties and institutions.<\/p>\n The research portrays a generation in crisis \u2014 not only economically, but also socially and existentially<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Young people increasingly feel that they are \u201cneither children nor adults.\u201d<\/strong> The present appears uncertain, the future unclear, and many dreams are postponed or abandoned.<\/p>\n The discussion will explore the representations, patterns and limits of youth culture and politicization<\/strong>, examining how the political consciousness of the younger generation is shaped under conditions of systemic crisis and insecurity.<\/p>\n The event will focus on five main themes that emerged from the research:<\/p>\n Rights<\/strong> \u2013 The struggle for basic labour and social rights<\/p>\n Time<\/strong> \u2013 Lack of personal time and the feeling of a \u201cstolen life\u201d<\/p>\n Work<\/strong> \u2013 Precarious employment, low wages and lack of prospects<\/p>\n Cost of Living<\/strong> \u2013 Continuous economic pressure and inability to plan ahead<\/p>\n Housing<\/strong> \u2013 The increasingly unattainable dream of independence and autonomy<\/p>\n
Athens Municipality Cultural Center<\/strong><\/span>
50 Akademias Street, Athens<\/span><\/p>\nPresentation of the Research<\/h4>\n
\nSpeakers<\/h1>\n
Senior Researcher, Political and Social Research Department, Prorata<\/p>\n
Social Psychologist and Senior Researcher, National Centre for Social Research (EKKE)<\/p>\n
Assistant Professor, University of Crete<\/p>\n
PhD in Political Science and History, Panteion University<\/p>\n
PhD Candidate, Department of Sociology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens<\/p>\n
Professor of Social Work in Addictions, University of West Attica<\/p>\n
\nOpening remarks<\/h4>\n
Director, Nikos Poulantzas InstituteModerator<\/p>\n
Vice-President of The Left in the European Parliament
Head of the SYRIZA Delegation<\/p>\n
\nThe Research: A Generation in Crisis<\/h1>\n
\n\u201cBlocked Adulthood\u201d<\/h1>\n
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\nThe Numbers Reveal<\/h1>\n
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\nA Paradoxical Maturity<\/h1>\n
\nThe Demystification of Europe<\/h1>\n
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\nPolitical Awareness<\/h1>\n
\nWhy Is This Discussion Important?<\/h1>\n
\nKey Themes of the Discussion<\/h1>\n
\nCo-organized by<\/h1>\n