Hermaküla: Young people's leftward shift is not Marxism, but capitalism criticism

Annette Maria Hermaküla argues that Generation Z's growing interest in socialism does not signal a rise in neo-Marxism. In her view, young people have simply understood that endless economic growth is incompatible with sustainability. Not all criticism of capitalism is automatically Marxism.

British magazine The Economist recently published an article on Generation Z's growing interest in socialism. Similar concerns have also been voiced in Estonia, where there are fears that dangerous neo-Marxism is spreading among young people. But is this alarm justified?

Annette Maria Hermaküla argues that the real problem does not lie in socialism's advance, but in capitalism's own narrow confines. Generation Z has grown up in the midst of climate crisis, rising inequality, and economic uncertainty, and for them the dogma of endless economic growth has become increasingly difficult to justify.

Criticism does not equal Marxism

Criticising capitalism does not automatically mean a person is a Marxist or wants to restore Soviet-style planned economy. Hermaküla emphasises that young people's scepticism towards the dominant economic model is often practical and environmentally conscious, rather than ideological sympathy for communism.

Generation Z has simply done the maths: finite planetary resources cannot sustain unlimited growth. This position does not require reading Marx; basic ecology will do.

What young people actually want

The question is not whether young people want to return to the past, but that they are seeking an economic model that accounts for the future. According to Hermaküla, this should be a warning especially to those who treat capitalism as an absolute dogma, not a reason to demonise young people's views.