Youth and Populism: A Scoping Review

Abstract

This scoping review maps the rapidly expanding literature on the relationship between youth and populism, revealing a field that is empirically rich yet conceptually fragmented. Across 80 peer-reviewed studies, clear patterns emerge: research is predominantly Eurocentric, focuses heavily on demand-side dynamics, and overwhelmingly examines the populist radical right. Existing research highlights substantial heterogeneity among young people: while some mobilize against radical right actors, others support them, with gender, socialization experiences, and digital environments playing crucial shaping roles. Although young individuals with populist orientations express high dissatisfaction with democratic performance, they tend to maintain normative commitments to democracy, alongside a comparatively greater openness to non-democratic alternatives. The review identifies several gaps, including limited attention to generational mechanisms, supply-side strategies, left-wing populism, and the implications of populist attitudes for youth political participation. Together, these unresolved questions underscore the need for a more integrated research agenda to understand the evolving role of youth in contemporary populist politics.