Exploring the Democratic Potential of Digital Gen Z Workers Across Southeast Europe

This essay examines whether the economic autonomy of Generation Z digital workers in North Macedonia, Kosovo and Croatia translates into democratic agency. Based on twenty interviews, it finds that global digital work enables incomes, merit-based advancement and independence from clientelist structures, while also creating insecurity, platform dependence and weak labour protection. Most participants remain sceptical of institutions and only selectively engaged in politics, although many express willingness to contribute through mentorship, knowledge transfer and community initiatives. The essay argues that supportive digital-economy policies and stronger professional networks could help turn this emerging group’s economic independence into civic and democratic engagement.