When Citizens Turn Away from Politics: Indifference as a Threat to Democracy

This blog post explores the consequences of political disengagement and its impact on democracy. It examines why people are turning away from political news and participation, with examples from Europe and the United States, and reflects on the risks this trend poses to democratic systems.

By Mika Horelli, BRUSSELS  A concerning trend is emerging in many democracies: people are disengaging from political news. This phenomenon is particularly evident in the United States, where two-thirds of citizens limit their political news consumption. However, it’s not just an American issue. Similar patterns are observed in Europe, especially in countries where democracy has already eroded. Hungary, under Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz government, serves as a cautionary example.

Disengagement from politics is more than a sign of the times—it poses a serious challenge to democracy. When citizens stop following or questioning those in power, democracy risks becoming hollow. The system may remain in name, but real power increasingly consolidates in the hands of a few.

There are several reasons why political disengagement is growing, transcending national boundaries:

• Exhaustion and Overload: Today’s news environment is omnipresent and often dominated by negative narratives. Crises, scandals, and political conflicts fill the headlines, leaving many feeling drained and powerless.

• Distrust in Institutions and Media: In many countries, people no longer trust governments, political parties, or traditional media. This distrust often stems from the perception that political systems are unresponsive or corrupt.

• Polarization and Hostility: Increasingly divisive political discourse alienates moderate citizens. When every issue becomes a battleground, many choose to disengage rather than confront conflict.

• Concentration of Media Ownership: In places like Hungary, political elites’ control of media reshapes public discourse. When most media outlets serve those in power, citizens lose faith in the neutrality of the news they consume.

Under Viktor Orbán, Hungary illustrates how political indifference can be both a symptom and a tool of democratic decline. Since 2010, Fidesz has systematically weakened independent media, consolidating control through state pressure and allied oligarchs.

This has transformed Hungary’s media landscape into a government propaganda machine, amplifying official messages while silencing dissent. The impact on public discourse is profound: opposition parties struggle to reach voters, and more citizens withdraw from political life, believing their actions won’t make a difference.

Such apathy is dangerous. When citizens stop participating, authoritarian governance gains ground. A media system meant to act as a watchdog instead becomes a tool of those in power.

While Hungary’s situation is extreme, similar trends are evident across Europe, albeit to a lesser degree. For example, in Poland, the former ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party sought to centralize control over public media, turning it into a propaganda outlet.

In Western Europe, growing mistrust in traditional institutions and media has accompanied the rise of populist parties. Many citizens disengage from political news, feeling it doesn’t represent their values or needs.

Even in stable democracies, fragmented media landscapes and the spread of misinformation are creating increasingly cynical and passive voters. Politics often appears either untrustworthy or irrelevant, reducing public discourse to a shouting match on social media.

Hungary’s trajectory might seem distant to citizens of strong democracies, but similar dynamics are at play elsewhere. Political polarization, misinformation, and declining trust in institutions are eroding participation across the continent.

Robust democracies benefit from independent press and judicial systems, which provide safeguards. However, no country is entirely immune. For instance, in Finland, the government’s second-largest party, the Finns Party, has advocated cutting funding for the public broadcaster Yle and influencing its programming.

The risk lies in gradual deterioration. Incremental concentration of media ownership, coupled with political polarization, can create conditions that amplify public disengagement. Countries like Italy, Spain, or even France, where trust in media and institutions has also declined, could face similar challenges.

Political indifference is both a cause and a consequence of democratic erosion. When citizens disengage:

• Accountability Weakens: Without oversight, scandals, corruption, and abuses of power can go unnoticed.

• Participation Declines: Voter turnout and civic engagement drop, leaving decision-making to smaller, less representative groups.

• Narratives Are Controlled: When media is dominated by those in power, citizens are more likely to accept official narratives without question.

• Polarization Deepens: Apathy creates a vacuum often filled by extreme views, as the politically active tend to be more ideologically driven.

Disengagement from political news is not just a trend—it’s a warning. Democracy relies on active and vigilant citizens. When people turn away from politics, the risks of authoritarianism, corruption, and inequality increase.

Could Hungary’s trajectory be repeated elsewhere in Europe? Without action from citizens and institutions, the answer is yes. Political apathy might feel like a personal choice, but it poses a threat to society as a whole.

Democracy thrives on participation, vigilance, and dialogue. Without these, it withers. The question is not whether democracy will survive in name, but whether it will remain a vibrant and meaningful system that genuinely serves its citizens.