Hope under siege: youth precarity, far-right politics, and the colonisation of the future

Abstract

This study investigates why young people, caught in precarious conditions and facing an ostensibly canceled future, may be drawn to the far right. Adopting a qualitative-interpretive methodology, the research involved twelve university students from various academic backgrounds, with data collected through semi-structured interviews enriched by visual elicitation techniques (e.g. memes). A narrative thematic analysis identified five key categories: Future expectations amid the sociopolitical landscape; expectations and concerns about the future; impact of social expectations on success and productivity; mental health struggles amid precarity and institutional gaps; and attitudes towards social transformation and youth mobilisation. The findings reveal a pervasive sense of uncertainty, fuelled by economic insecurity, unattainable housing, and an overemphasis on hyperproductivity. As institutional structures struggle to adapt to rapid change, frustration grows, making some young people more susceptible to extremist or simplistic political solutions. At the same time, participants expressed a desire for collective engagement, highlighting the potential of local initiatives and student organisations to challenge disenchantment. Ultimately, the study underscores the importance of offering meaningful democratic projects and structural reforms to counteract the lure of the far right and reinvigorate hope in the future.