Why Europe’s kids are revolting The system won’t save them

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Youth Protests Spread Across Europe Amid Economic and Social Grievances

   Young people are protesting across Europe, with some demonstrations turning violent. While French student riots involving looting and torching of public buildings have drawn the most attention, unrest has spread to Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Germany, and Austria. Protesters cite rising rents, living costs, and job uncertainty as primary drivers. In Serbia, a two-year student movement recently won a general election, ending the long reign of Aleksandar Vučić. Demonstrators across the continent express a shared belief that promises of a decent future have been broken.

   Why it matters

   Europe's youth are a minority in every society on the continent. The current unrest reflects a systemic failure to provide basic foundations of adult life, including affordable housing and stable employment. This widespread dissent suggests a growing generational divide regarding economic security and political representation.

   What is confirmed

   • Youth protests have occurred in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Germany, and Austria.
   • Protesters are motivated by rising living costs, housing affordability, and job uncertainty.
   • French student protests involved rioting, looting, and the torching of public buildings.
   • A student movement in Serbia won a general election, ending the reign of Aleksandar Vučić.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Footage of French youth protests has had a direct impact on protests across the rest of Europe.
   • The rest of Europe is surprisingly peaceful compared to France.

   What to watch next

   • Further election results influenced by youth movements in other European countries
   • Official government responses to housing and cost-of-living demands
   • Evidence of coordinated efforts between Gen Z protesters across different borders
   Sources used for this update (20)

   1. The Economist — France is rioting. The rest of Europe is surprisingly peaceful
   2. JW.ORG — Youths Protest in Europe
   3. unherd.com — France and the future of the American Right
   4. whyevolutionistrue.com — Wednesday: Hili dialogue
   5. UnHerd — Why Europe’s kids are revolting The system won’t save them
   6. Reuters — NEWSLETTER: What’s driving the Gen Z protests?
   7. The New York Times — Opinion | Europe Is Aflame, and It’s Not Going to Stop
   8. Le Monde.fr — Donatella della Porta, political scientist: 'Footage of France's youth protests is so powerful that it has an impact across Europe'
   9. Financial Times — Europe in a time of crisis — can the EU unite a fracturing continent?
   10. CNA — CNA Explains: Why are violent Gen Z protests breaking out across Europe?
   11. The Times of India — From France to Portugal, Europe is protesting: How rising rents, living costs are fuelling anger
   12. Semafor — Wave of discontent sweeps Europe
   confidence 90%