Generations in contemporary US politics: statistical aggregations or collective political actors?

The cultural salience of generational categories is on the rise: the large and powerful Baby-Boom generation continues to dominate electoral politics while younger Millennials' and Gen Zers' fluency in digital communication technology lets them voice their frustrations. We demonstrate that...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Politics, groups & identities groups & identities, 2024-05, Vol.12 (3), p.537-558
Main Authors: Munger, Kevin, Plutzer, Eric
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Candidates
Cleavage
collective action
Communications technology
Elections
Fluency
Generations
Greta Thunberg
Infants
Millennials
political consciousness
Politics
public opinion
Technology
Telecommunications
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Summary:The cultural salience of generational categories is on the rise: the large and powerful Baby-Boom generation continues to dominate electoral politics while younger Millennials' and Gen Zers' fluency in digital communication technology lets them voice their frustrations. We demonstrate that these three generational groups show many signs of being-or becoming-collective political actors. Majorities identify with their generation, they find these identities salient in their everyday lives, and younger generations especially demonstrate high levels of generational linked fate. Generations have distinct political agendas, and many express a willingness to support candidates who prioritize the interests of their generation. These findings force us to reconsider the treatment of generations as only ascriptive groups and instead see them as composed of self-conscious members, capable of acting as collective actors on the political stage. If the patterns we show sharpen further, generations may become defining points of cultural and political cleavage.
ISSN:2156-5503
2156-5511
DOI:10.1080/21565503.2022.2159452