Arayüz Youth Research: Political Tendencies, Social Positioning and Mobilization

The Arayüz Youth Research is based on computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) conducted with 1,255 young people aged 18–30 across Türkiye between 27 and 31 July 2026. It examines young people’s economic circumstances and emotional well-being, their perceptions of their influence in politics, their experiences of representation and participation, their voting preferences, their trust in institutions and their sources of information.

The findings show that young people in Türkiye are not a generation detached from politics. Many face financial hardship and anxiety about the future. They are sceptical about the accountability of political institutions and tend to keep their distance from forms of participation outside elections, such as petition campaigns, protests and rallies, and events organised by political parties or municipalities. Despite this, they value voting, want to be represented in politics, and remain engaged with public issues.

The central divide is less about whether young people are interested in politics and more about whether their interest is met with a meaningful response. They vote, but are not always convinced their votes can bring about change; they want to be represented, but cannot access decision-making processes.