Keywords
Youth disillusionment
authoritarian drift
rule of law
How to Cite
Abstract
In recent decades, support for authoritarian ideals and leaders among young people has been growing globally, challenging constitutionalism and the rule of law. This article examines the reasons behind this trend, highlighting factors such as disillusionment with the functioning of democracy, economic inequality, cultural changes, and the impact of social media. Based on documented studies, the analysis points out how skepticism towards democracy has led young people to seek authoritarian alternatives, driven by a combination of insecurity and dissatisfaction. The research also explores possible paths to restore trust in democratic institutions, emphasizing the need for reforms that connect youth to democratic values.
References
AGBAENYI, A. N. Democratic Deficit, Insecurity And Development In Nigeria's Fourth Republic. Research Journal of Humanities and Social Science, v. 10, n. 3, p. 46-54, 2022. Disponível em: https://www.questjournals.org/jrhss/papers/vol10-issue8/1008364372.pdf . Acesso em: 20 nov. 2024.
AUERBACH, K.; PETROVA, B. Authoritarian or Simply Disillusioned? Explaining Democratic Skepticism in Central and Eastern Europe. Political Behavior, v. 44, n. 4, p. 1959-1983, 2022. Disponível em: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11109-022-09807-0 . Acesso em: 20 nov. 2024.
AYRES, R. L. Crime and Violence as Development Issues in Latin America and the Caribbean. Washington, DC: World Bank, 1998.
AZPURU, D. Explaining Support for Populism in Contemporary Latin America. Oxon; New York: Routlege, 2024.
BAHAMONDE, H.; TRASBERG, M. Inclusive institutions, unequal outcomes: Democracy, state capacity, and income inequality. European Journal of Political Economy, v. 70, p. 102048, 2021. Disponível em: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0176268021000471 . Acesso em: 15 nov. 2024.
BARRERA, O.; LEIVA, A.; MARTÍNEZ-TOLEDANO, C.; ZÚÑIGA-CORDERO, Á. Social Inequalities, Identity, and the Structure of Political Cleavages in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Colômbia, México e Peru (1952-2019). World Inequality Lab, 2021. Disponível em: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-03215948/ . Acesso em: 15 nov. 2024.
BARROS, L.; SANTOS, M. Right-wing populism in the tropics: Economic crisis, the political gender gap, and the election of Bolsonaro. Discussion Papers, n. 242, 2021. Disponível em: http://www2.vwl.wiso.uni-oettingen.de/ibero/working_paper_neu/DB242.pdf . Acesso em: 15 nov. 2024
BARTOMEUS, O. Por qué cada vez menos jóvenes creen en la democracia. El País, 16 jun. 2024. Disponível em: https://elpais.com/ideas/2024-06-16/por-que-cada-vez-menos-jovenes-creen-en-la-democracia.html . Acesso em: 15 nov. 2024
BENNETT, W. L.; LIVINGSTON, S. The disinformation order: Disruptive communication and the decline of democratic institutions. European journal of communication, v. 33, n. 2, p. 122-139, 2018.
BRISTELLE, A.; CARBONELL, J.; COHEN, S.; DRESSLER, M.; KASZÁS, A.; KOSTRZEWSKI, A.; MITCHELL, G.; SMOGORZEWSKI, K.; WIRTHWEIN, K. How Young People Facing Disadvantage View Democracy in Europe. Brussels; Dublin; Madrid; Paris: Foundation for European Progressive Studies, TASC, Fondation Jean-Jaurès, Fundación Felipe Gonzalez, Foundation Amicus Europae, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung and the Institute for Social Democracy, 2024.
BUGARIČ, B. A crisis of constitutional democracy in post-Communist Europe:“Lands in-between” democracy and authoritarianism. International Journal of Constitutional Law, v. 13, n. 1, p. 219-245, 2015. Disponível em: https://academic.oup.com/icon/article/13/1/219/689918 . Acesso em: 20 nov. 2024.
CARRERAS, M. The impact of criminal violence on regime legitimacy in Latin America. Latin American research review, v. 48, n. 3, p. 85-107, 2013. Disponível em: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/latin-american-research-review/article/impact-of-criminal-violence-on-regime-legitimacy-in-latin-america/BDDE598BCD4FA4D45E67B8D5934DD698 . Acesso em: 20 nov. 2024.
CHEBLY, M. M. Gender Bias and the Far-right Populism in Argentina. [s.l.]: San Diego: University of California, 2024. [Dissertação de Mestrado]. Disponível em: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/40f0f8bf#main . Acesso em: 21 nov. 2024
CLAASSEN, C.; MAGALHÃES, P. C. Effective government and evaluations of democracy. Comparative Political Studies, v. 55, n. 5, p. 869-894, 2022. Disponível em: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00104140211036042 . Acesso em: 20 nov. 2024.
CLEARY, M. R.; ÖZTÜRK, A. When does backsliding lead to breakdown? Uncertainty and opposition strategies in democracies at risk. Perspectives on Politics, v. 20, n. 1, p. 205-221, 2022.
CONNORS, M. K.; HEWISON, K. Introduction: Thailand and the “good coup”. Journal of Contemporary Asia, v. 38, n. 1, p. 1-10, 2008. Disponível em: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00472330701651929 . Acesso em: 20 nov. 2024.
CRUZ, J. M. Violencia y democratización en Centroamérica: El impacto del crimen en la legitimidad de los regímenes de posguerra. América Latina Hoy, v. 35, p. 19–59, 2003. Disponível em: https://revistas.usal.es/cuatro/index.php/1130-2887/article/view/7374 . Acesso em: 20 nov. 2024.
DALY, T. G.; JONES, B. C. Parties versus democracy: Addressing today’s political party threats to democratic rule. International Journal of Constitutional Law, v. 18, n. 2, p. 509-538, 2020. Disponível em: https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/160478/3/13%20OUP%20Daly%20and%20Jones.pdf . Acesso em: 15 nov. 2024.
DECKER, O. Flight into Authoritarianism: The Dynamics of Right-Wing Extremism at the Centre of Society. In: DECKER, O.; KIESS, J.; BRÄHLER, E. (ed.). The Dynamics of Right-Wing Extremism within German Society. Trad. David West. London; New York: Routledge, 2022. p. 1-37.
DIAMOND, L. Facing up to the Democratic Recession. Journal of Democracy, v. 26, n. 1, p. 141-155, 2015.
DÍAZ-CUELLAR, V. Requiem Para El ‘Proceso de Cambio. Control Ciudadano, v. 13, n. 32, p. 1-16, 2019.
DÍEZ-GUTIÉRREZ, E-J.; JARQUÍN-RAMÍREZ, M-R.; PALOMO-CERMEÑO, E. Neo-fascist trends in education: neo-liberal hybridisation and a new authoritarian order. Journal for Critical Education Policy Studies (JCEPS), v. 22, n. 2, p. 125-170, 2024. Disponível em: http://www.jceps.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/22_2_4.pdf . Acesso em: 15 nov. 2024.
EASTON, D. A re-assessment of the concept of political support. British Journal of Political Science, v. 5, n. 4, p. 435-457, 1975.
ELSTER, J. Some notes on ‘Populism’. Philosophy & Social Criticism, v. 46, n. 5, p. 591-600, 2020.
ERSGÅRDEN, E.; SINHA, J. Addressing Digital Barriers: A Case Study: Exploring how adults with mental health disorders perceive digitalization and the digital divide. [s.l.]: Malmö: Malmö University, 2023. [Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso]. Disponível em: https://mau.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1807158/FULLTEXT02.pdf . Acesso em: 20 nov. 2024.
EVANS, G.; WHITEFIELD, S. The politics and economics of democratic commitment: Support for democracy in transition societies. British Journal of Political Science, v. 25, n. 4, p. 485-514, 1995.
FERGUSON, C. J. Does the internet make the world worse? Depression, aggression and polarization in the social media age. Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, v. 41, n. 4, p. 116-135, 2021. Disponível em: https://www.christopherjferguson.com/Internet%20Worse.pdf . Acesso em: 15 nov. 2024.
FOA, R. S.; MOUNK, Y. The danger of deconsolidation: The democratic disconnect. Journal of democracy, v. 27, n. 3, p. 5-17, 2016.
FORNACIARI, M. B. Involution of the Constitutional Order and the Role of the Highest Courts: a Comparative Perspective. In: GROPPI, T.; CARLIN, V.; MILANI, G. (ed.). Framing and diagnosing constitutional degradation: a comparative perspective. Genova: Editore Consulta OnLine, 2022. p. 177-184. Disponível em: https://giurcost.org/contents/giurcost//COLLANA/ebook-TaniaGroppi.pdf . Acesso em: 15 nov. 2024.
FREIDENBERG, F. Electoral reform and political representation of women in Latin America. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. 2020. Disponível em: https://oxfordre.com/politics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.001.0001/acrefore-9780190228637-e-1676 . Acesso em: 15 nov. 2024.
FUKUYAMA, F. States and democracy. Democratization, v. 21, n. 7, p. 1326-1340, 2014.
GEIß, S.; MAGIN, M.; JÜRGENS, P.; STARK, B. Loopholes in the echo chambers: How the echo chamber metaphor oversimplifies the effects of information gateways on opinion expression. Digital Journalism, v. 9, n. 5, p. 660-686, 2021. Disponível em: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21670811.2021.1873811 . Acesso em: 20 nov. 2024.
GRABER, M. A.; LEVINSON, S.; TUSHNET, M. Introduction. In: GRABER, M. A.; LEVINSON, S.; TUSHNET, M. (eds.). Constitutional democracy in crisis?. New York: Oxford University Press, 2018.
HAMELEERS, M.; BOS, L.; DE VREESE, C. H. Selective exposure to populist communication: How attitudinal congruence drives the effects of populist attributions of blame. Journal of Communication, v. 68, n. 1, p. 51-74, 2018. Disponível em: https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/31007720/jqx001.pdf . Acesso em: 20 nov. 2024.
HERRMANN, S.; MACDONALD, D.; TAUSCHER, R. Confidence in the Criminal Justice System in the Americas. Americas Barometer Insights: 2011. Disponível em: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/insights/I0862en.pdf . Acesso em: 15 nov. 2024.
HONG, S. Who benefits from Twitter? Social media and political competition in the US House of Representatives. Government Information Quarterly, v. 30, n. 4, p. 464-472, 2013. Disponível em: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0740624X13000646 . Acesso em: 20 nov. 2024.
HURTADO, O. Political power in Ecuador. New York: Routledge, 2019.
IAMAMOTO, S. A.S.; MANO, M. K.; SUMMA, R. Brazilian far-right neoliberal nationalism: family, anti-communism and the myth of racial democracy. Globalizations, v. 20, n. 5, p. 782-79, 2023.
KITCHENS, B.; JOHNSON, S. L.; GRAY, P. Understanding echo chambers and filter bubbles: The impact of social media on diversification and partisan shifts in news consumption. MIS quarterly, v. 44, n. 4, p. 1619-1649, 2020. Disponível em: https://www.darden.virginia.edu/sites/default/files/inline-files/05_16371_RA_KitchensJohnsonGray%20Final_0.pdf . Acesso em: 20 nov. 2024.
KONING, E. A.; PUDDISTER, K. Common sense justice? Comparing populist and mainstream right positions on law and order in 24 countries. Party Politics, v. 30, n. 2, p. 223-235, 2024. Disponível em: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13540688221131983 . Acesso em: 20 nov. 2024
KORONOWSKI, A. Technological Progress and Unemployment: luddism and beyond. Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, v. 284, n. 4, p. 5-22, 2016. Disponível em: https://gnpje.sgh.waw.pl/pdf-100757-33149 . Acesso em: 20 nov. 2024.
KOTZIAN, P. Public support for liberal democracy. International Political Science Review, v. 32, n. 1, p. 23-41, 2011.
LAEBENS, M. G.; LÜHRMANN, A. What halts democratic erosion? The changing role of accountability. In: LÜHRMANN, A.; MERKEL, W. (ed.). Resilience of Democracy. Responses to Illiberal and Authoritarian Challenges. London; New York: Routledge, 2023. p. 40-60.
LEVITSKY, S.; ZIBLATT, D. How democracies die. New York: Broadway Books, 2018.
LOUGHLIN, M. The Contemporary Crisis of Constitutional Democracy. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, v. 39, n. 2, p. 435-456, 2019.
LUCASSEN, G.; LUBBERS, M. Who fears what? Explaining far-right-wing preference in Europe by distinguishing perceived cultural and economic ethnic threats. Comparative political studies, v. 45, n. 5, p. 547-574, 2012.
MALONE, M. F. T. The Verdict Is In: The Impact of Crime on Public Trust in Central American Justice Systems. Journal of Politics in Latin America, v. 2, n. 3, p. 99–128, 2010.
MARCELLA, G.; PÉREZ, O. J.; FONSECA, B. Conclusions. In: MARCELLA, G.; PÉREZ, O. J.; FONSECA, B. (eds). Democracy and Security in Latin America: State Capacity and Governance Under Stress. Londomn; New York: Routledge, 2021. p. 209-213.
MAXWELL, S. R. Perceived threat of crime, authoritarianism, and the rise of a populist president in the Philippines. International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, v. 43, n. 3, p. 207-218, 2019.
MCDONALD, R. P. The Kids are Alt-Right: A Review of Authoritarian Attitudes in Young Adults. [s.l]. 2020. [MA Major Research Papers n. 13]. Disponível em: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/politicalscience_maresearchpapers/13 . Acesso em: 15 nov. 2024.
MERKEL, W. Challenge or crisis of democracy. In: MERKEL, W.; KNEIP, S. (ed.). Democracy and crisis: Challenges in turbulent times. Cham: Springer, 2018. p. 1-28.
MIDDLEBROOK, K. J. Introduction: Conservative Parties, Elite Representation, and Democracy in Latin America. In: MIDDLEBROOK, K. J. (ed.). Conservative Parties, the Right, and Democracy in Latin America. Baltimore: Johnd Hopkins University Press, 2000. p. 1-52.
MILLER, M. L.; VACCARI, C. Digital threats to democracy: Comparative lessons and possible remedies. The International Journal of Press/Politics, v. 25, n. 3, p. 333-356, 2020.
MOUNK, Y. The people vs. democracy: Why our freedom is in danger and how to save it. The People vs. Democracy. Cambridge; London: Harvard University Press, 2018.
NGUYEN, C. T. Echo chambers and epistemic bubbles. Episteme, v. 17, n. 2, p. 141-161, 2020.
NORRIS, P.; INGLEHART, R. Cultural Backlash. Trump, Brexit, and Authoritarian Populism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019.
OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS (OSF). Open Society Barometer: Can Democracy Deliver?. September, 2023. Disponível em: https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/focus/open-society-barometer . Acesso em: 15 nov. 2024.
OUDIN, A.; MAATOUG, R.; BOURLA, A.; FERRERI, F.; BONNOT, O.; MILLET, B.; SCHOELLER, F.; MOUCHABAC, S.; ADRIEN, V. Digital phenotyping: data-driven psychiatry to redefine mental health. Journal of Medical Internet Research, v. 25, p. e44502, 2023. Disponível em: https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e44502/ . Acesso em: 15 nov. 2024.
PAWAR, Y. Impact of digitalization on mental wellness of students International. Journal of Social Science and Economic Research, v. 6, n. 6, p. 1807-1816, 2021.
PAYNE, L. A.; SANTOS, A. A. The right-wing backlash in Brazil and beyond. Politics & Gender, v. 16, n. 1, E6, 2020.
PELEA, C. I. Digital Culture-Bound Syndromes: A Sociocultural Perspective on Human-Technology Interaction, Mental Health, and Communication. In: PELEA, C. I. (ed.). Culture-bound syndromes in popular culture. London; New York: Routledge, 2023. p. 243-264.
POLACKO, M. The rightward shift and electoral decline of social democratic parties under increasing inequality. West European Politics, v. 45, n. 4, p. 665-692, 2022.
ROCKMAN, B. A. Bureaucracy between populism and technocracy. Administration & Society, v. 51, n. 10, p. 1546-1575, 2019.
RODRÍGUEZ-POSE, A.; TERRERO-DÁVILA, J.; LEE, N. Left-behind versus unequal places: interpersonal inequality, economic decline and the rise of populism in the USA and Europe. Journal of Economic Geography, v. 23, n. 5, p. 951-977, 2023.
ROMERO-VIDAL, X.; TALUKDER, D. Generational Perspectives on Western European Democracy: The changing influence of political and economic drivers of satisfaction with democracy, 2022. Disponível em: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374776950_Generational_Perspectives_on_Western_European_Democracy_The_changing_influence_of_political_and_economic_drivers_of_satisfaction_with_democracy . Acesso em: 15 nov. 2024.
ROSKIN, M. Countries and concepts: Politics, geography, culture. 11ª ed. New York: Pearson, 2010.
RUNCIMAN, D. How Democracy Ends. London: Basic Books, 2018.
SANTANA, C. H. V.; FERRARIO, M. N. Middle classes and the rise of authoritarian populist rulers: a comparison between contemporary Brazil and India. In: Virtual Congress of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA). 2022. Disponível em: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carlos-Santana-4/publication/360443817_Middle_Classes_and_the_Rise_of_Authoritarian_Populist_Rulers_a_comparison_between_contemporary_Brazil_and_India/links/6276689b107cae2919918ae1/Middle-Classes-and-the-Rise-of-Authoritarian-Populist-Rulers-a-comparison-between-contemporary-Brazil-and-India.pdf . Acesso em: 15 nov. 2024.
SCHÄFER, A. Cultural backlash? How (not) to explain the rise of authoritarian populism. British Journal of Political Science, v. 52, n. 4, p. 1977-1993, 2022.
SCHMIDT, V. A. The Discursive Construction of Discontent: Nationalist Populism, Neo-Liberalism, and the Political Economies of Europe and the United States. Journal of European Integration, v. 44, n. 2, p. 165- 182, 2022.
SELCHER, W. American Political Culture in Transition: The Erosion of Consensus and Democratic Norms. Brasília: INCT-INEU, 2024. Disponível em: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4742918 . Acesso em: 20 nov. 2024.
SELÇUK, O. Strong presidents and weak institutions: populism in Turkey, Venezuela and Ecuador. In: ÖKTEM, K.; AKKOYUNLU, K. (ed). Exit from Democracy. Illiberal Governance in Turkey and Beyond. New York; London: Routledge, 2018. p. 103-122.
SILVA, F. C. T. O Discurso de Ódio. Revista nuestrAmérica, v. 7, n. 13, p. 45-64, 2019.
SMITH, A. E.; BOAS, T. C. Religion, sexuality politics, and the transformation of Latin American electorates. British Journal of Political Science, v. 54, n. 3, p. 816-835, 2024.
SMITH, G. Can democracy safeguard the future?. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2021.
SOMER, M.; MCCOY, J. L.; LUKE, R. E. Pernicious polarization, autocratization and opposition strategies. In: LÜHRMANN, A.; MERKEL, W. (ed.). Resilience of Democracy. Responses to Illiberal and Authoritarian Challenges. London; New York: Routledge, 2023. p. 61-80.
SPARKE, M. Reactionary anti-globalism: the crisis of globalisation. In: BALLARD, R.; BARNETT, C. (ed). The Routledge handbook of social change. London; New York: Routledge, 2022. p. 19-33.
STEARNS, M. L. Parliamentary America: The Least Radical Means of Radically Repairing Our Broken Democracy. Baltimore: JHU Press, 2024.
STREECK, W. The crises of democratic capitalism. New left review, n. 71, p. 5-29, 2011.
THOMAS, E. F.; CARY, N.; SMITH, L. G.; SPEARS, R.; MCGARTY, C. The role of social media in shaping solidarity and compassion fade: How the death of a child turned apathy into action but distress took it away. New Media & Society, v. 20, n. 10, p. 3778-3798, 2018.
VISCONTI, G. Policy preferences after crime victimization: panel and survey evidence from Latin America. British Journal of Political Science, v. 50, n. 4, p. 1481-1495, 2020.
VOWLES, J. Populism, authoritarianism, vote choice and democracy. In: VOWLES, J.; CURTIN, J. A populista exception? The 2017 New Zealand general election. Acukland: ANU Press, 2020. p. 107-135.
WEYLAND, K. Populism’s threat to democracy: Comparative lessons for the United States. Perspectives on Politics, v. 18, n. 2, p. 389-406, 2020.
XU, Z.; ZHANG, M. The “ultimate empathy machine” as technocratic solutionism? Audience reception of the distant refugee crisis through virtual reality. In: REILLY, P.; SALOJÄRVI, V. (ed.). (De) constructing Societal Threats During Times of Deep Mediatization. London; New York: Routledge, 2023. p. 35-57.
YANG, H.; ZHAO, D. Performance legitimacy, state autonomy and China’s economic miracle. Journal of Contemporary China, v. 24, n. 91, p. 64-82, 2015.
YAP, O. F. Economic performance and democratic support in Asia’s emergent democracies. Comparative Political Studies, v. 46, n. 4, p. 486-512, 2013.
ZAGÓRSKI, P.; JOSÉ RAMA, J.; CORDERO, G. Young and temporary: Youth employment insecurity and support for right-wing populist parties in Europe. Government and Opposition, v. 56, n. 3, p. 405-426, 2021.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Lex Humana (ISSN 2175-0947)