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

Abstract

ABSTRACT 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.