Young people in Germany want to take on responsibility and actively help shape Germany’s future in the world. 74 percent of 12- to 18-year-olds are convinced that Germany can only solve global challenges by working together with other countries. They view France, the U.S., and China as their most important partners. The key issues in international cooperation are security, trade, and economic policy. These areas have seen the greatest increases compared to last year’s survey.
“The results reveal a generation that values solidarity, social engagement, and international cooperation. Young people want to take on responsibility. We want to give them a voice and ensure that their perspectives are more strongly incorporated into political decisions,” says Liz Mohn, founder and chair of the board of the Liz Mohn Foundation.
Considering the current political debates surrounding legally mandated compulsory service or conscription, young people, as those directly affected, have a clear opinion: 62 percent of those surveyed support a general form of compulsory community service. That is significantly more than in the previous year (2025: 53 percent). However, 58 percent of young people oppose mandatory military service.
The Bundeswehr is currently sending out a questionnaire to all young adults who will reach the age of 18 in 2026. The questionnaire asks about their interest in voluntary service with the Bundeswehr. The young people between the ages of 12 and 18 surveyed by the Liz Mohn Foundation show a clear preference for civilian service: 52 percent support this option. Just under a quarter (24 percent) can easily imagine volunteering with the Bundeswehr. Twenty percent of those surveyed reject the idea of voluntary civilian service for themselves, while 43 percent cannot imagine volunteering for military service.
The results also highlight a connection between defense capabilities and engagement. Young people who believe that Germany needs to become more capable of defending itself show a disproportionately high level of engagement—both military and civilian.
“If there are social obligations, they should apply equally to everyone. Accordingly, I would prefer a general mandatory service for all genders, in which people can choose between different areas of service,” says 17-year-old Mathilda Brün from the Liz Mohn Foundation’s “Generation Global” support network.
The study’s findings show that young people want to get involved in social, environmental, or security policy issues. For many, the ability to decide for themselves how they will contribute is essential.
Children and teenagers show a high level of interest in politics. More than half are interested in political issues. These topics are discussed primarily among friends and family. At the same time, 85 percent would like to see more discussions about current political issues at school. “Just five minutes at the start of the school day would be enough to provide every student with the three most important news stories of the day. That’s how you lay the groundwork for greater interest in politics,” says 16-year-old Marta Isabel Alonso Gonzalez from the Liz Mohn Foundation’s “Generation Global” support network.
It’s also clear that the younger generation is very aware of current foreign and security policy challenges. They view these issues objectively and with nuance. Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of those surveyed support strengthening Germany’s defense capabilities. At the same time, a majority opposes greater German military involvement in international conflicts.
For the study “Deutschlands Rolle in der Welt – Perspektiven junger Menschen auf deutsche Außenpolitik 2026,” the polling institute Ipsos surveyed 800 young people aged 12 to 18 in Germany in April 2026 on behalf of the Liz Mohn Foundation.
The study’s findings will be the focus of the Liz Mohn Foundation’s “Generation Global LIVE” town hall conference on Monday, June 29, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Small Hall of the Stadthalle Gütersloh. The conference brings young people and experts together for a conversation on equal footing in a professional arena format. If you are interested, please contact Nadine Lindemann via email at lindemann@liz-mohn-stiftung.de.
“Generation Global” is a program of the Liz Mohn Foundation for young people interested in foreign policy. Through the program, they acquire the necessary hard and soft skills to represent their generation’s views in public debates. Experts coach the young people over a period of 24 months.
The study “Deutschlands Rolle in der Welt – Perspektiven junger Menschen auf deutsche Außenpolitik 2026” is available for download below.
