Generation Z: The Underestimated Political Force

Whether it’s the escalating wave of protests in France, the “Cockroach” movement in India, or the violent unrest in Albania: young people are currently taking to the streets in various parts of the world. These recent developments make it clear that Generation Z is no longer merely taking notice of social injustices but is increasingly exerting political pressure on its own. “What we’re seeing right now is not an isolated youth phenomenon. Generation Z is beginning to increasingly translate its demographic weight and digital connectivity into political influence,” says Dr. Heinz-Werner Rapp, founder and director of the FERI Cognitive Finance Institute.

The political potential of this generation is considerable: Worldwide, approximately two billion people belong to Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012). This means they account for about a quarter of the world’s population and constitute the largest age cohort in human history to date. The vast majority of Gen Z lives in Africa and Asia. As early as 2023, the FERI Cognitive Finance Institute had predicted that the political and economic influence of this young generation would likely increase significantly in the future, particularly in these regions. 

Recent developments confirm this forecast and also clearly show that the West, in particular, has so far underestimated the importance of Gen Z—but even there, their political relevance is growing. The FERI Cognitive Finance Institute sees “disruptive potential” in this: a generation that is more technologically savvy and more globally connected than its predecessors, and that at the same time confidently advocates for its own issues and values. 

Digital connectivity is changing the mechanisms of political mobilization

Social media platforms are particularly relevant to Gen Z. For this young generation, social media is not just a means of communication, but a central arena for social and political mobilization. As a result, dissatisfaction can quickly coalesce and lead to collective action—without traditional party structures, established organizations, or central leadership. “Gen Z’s political mobilization follows different mechanisms than those of traditional protest movements,” says Rapp. “Governments and political parties should therefore not make the mistake of viewing Gen Z merely as a young and politically irrelevant fringe group.”

The recent protests of 2026 lend new urgency to this assessment. This is not to say that Generation Z should be viewed as a politically homogeneous bloc. The specific goals, social conditions, and political attitudes vary significantly from country to country. What many of the current movements have in common, however, is the determination of young people to demand direct political decision-making and to place greater pressure on established structures to justify their actions. “Gen Z is emerging as a political force that elites and established actors can no longer ignore,” Rapp concludes. “Anyone who underestimates their goals and expectations—and, above all, their ability to mobilize—is likely to be surprised by the speed of future political changes.” 

From an investor’s perspective, this development is also significant. Political shifts and social tensions can alter economic conditions and have a lasting impact on investment decisions. Professional investors must therefore keep an eye on Gen Z’s growing political influence and their changing value systems as part of a comprehensive assessment of opportunities and risks.

As early as 2023, the FERI Cognitive Finance Institute examined the social, economic, and political implications of this development in its analysis titled “Generation Z – The Young Generation’s Potential for Global Disruption.” Visual material and the Cognitive Comment are available for download on this page.