Renunciations Chapter 2 In this first chapter, we set out to meet the youth and discover their hopes, concerns, and visions of the future. Addressing personal aspirations and collective concerns, this collection of questions invites participants to confide in us about their personal ambitions and global concerns. What emerges from this is a nuanced panorama of utopias and dystopias, describing a future with many different faces. Read more Read more The first question raises a significant divergence of opinion: the West appears to put personal happiness first whereas the rest of the world is more focused on personal success. This is joined by a second surprising revelation: despite the climate emergency, their first concern is the quest for peace. The next question brings to light another contrast between the West and the rest of the world, in which the fear of failure takes precedence over financial concerns. The fourth question, meanwhile, reveals common priorities—environmental crises and armed conflicts—but diverging perceptions of responsibility: the West blames institutions whereas the rest of the world points the finger at the individual. Lastly, the fifth question illustrates a troubling paradox: individualism is seen as both the problem and the solution, highlighting the difficulty of fighting collectively against the harmful behaviors of certain individuals. The following pages contain an exhaustive analysis of the answers, their frequency, and their distance from and proximity to each other, thus enabling an exploration of the maze of thoughts, hopes, and fears shaping the vision of the future that is in the minds of today’s youth.