Generations and Political Attitudes: Intergenerational Transmission and Generational Differences

Abstract

Compared to older generations, young people are more likely to be pro-EU and in favor of measures to protect the environment, to oppose Brexit (in the UK), or to vote for the Democratic party (in the US) or for Green parties in Europe. There are different explanations for these generational differences: (1) they may partially be the result of differences in the composition of these generations, for example in terms of education or ethnic diversity; (2) they might also be the result of differences between the circumstances in which people were politically socialized in, or (3) of differences between citizens who are successful in passing on their political attitudes to future generations and those who are not. Finally, both generational as well as life-cycle effects could be behind differences between people of different ages, and this has obvious consequences for the way our societies are changing. For all these reasons, research on similarities and differences in the political attitudes and behaviors of generations is important for political scientists. These similarities and differences are often examined from various angles. On the one hand, research on political socialization focuses on the intergenerational transmission of political attitudes as well as political learning throughout the lifespan, often examining smaller-scale processes within families or individual development. On the other, research on generational differences between citizens shows larger-scale trends in attitudes and behavioral patterns. Our panel incorporates papers that approach the topic of generational similarities and differences from both angles and make a meaningful contribution to our understanding of changing political landscapes.

Title	Details
Aligning Future Voters: An Age-Period-Cohort Study of Issue-Based Voting in Western Europe	View Paper Details
Socialized with “old cleavages” or “new dimensions”: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis on electoral support for mainstream-left and mainstream-right parties in Western Europe	View Paper Details
The Gender Generation Gap in Preferences for Social Spending and Redistribution: A Comparative Analysis	View Paper Details
The Perception and Adoption of Parental Political Orientations in the Dutch Multiparty Context	View Paper Details