Italian teenagers targeted by far-right and far-left political recruitment, report finds

The Local Italy has reported that Italian student protests have shed light on how party politics begins inside schools, with recruitment of teenagers as young as 14 by far-right and far-left movements. The pattern reflects a broader European trend of politicization among Gen Z, but in Italy the entry point is often the classroom itself.

According to The Local Italy, the appeal of political movements to young people is rooted in material conditions. Young people in Italy face limited job prospects, housing costs they cannot afford, and the prospect of leaving home to find work elsewhere. Political movements—whether populist, far-right or radical left—offer belonging, narrative coherence and a sense of agency in a system that feels rigged.

The Local Italy's reporting frames this as a question of attraction: why do Italian teenagers seem so political? The answer lies partly in the absence of other forms of power. A teenager without a clear path to university or employment has few channels to influence their circumstances. Political movements offer narrative, community and the promise of change.