Political Behaviour/Sociology

F02(b) - Generational Divides in Politics / Clivages générationnels en politique

Date: Jun 3 | Time: 10:15am to 11:45am | Location:

Chair/Président/Présidente : Semra Sevi (University of Toronto)

Discussant/Commentateur/Commentatrice : Maxime Coulombe (University of Western Ontario)

Breaking the Cycle: Compulsory Voting Within the Context of Youth Underrepresentation: Avery Chalmers (University of Ottawa), Daniel Stockemer (University of Ottawa), Sam Mather (University of Ottawa), Lauren Garcia (University of Ottawa), Kamila Kolodziejczyk (University of Ottawa)
Abstract: Although youth often constitute a significant portion of a country’s population, they remain underrepresented in national parliaments. While previous research has highlighted some of the causes and effects of youth underrepresentation, we aim to examine the unanalyzed relationship between compulsory voting and youth representation. We hypothesize that because youth participate equally in voting, parties have an incentive to also nominate more young candidates under compulsory voting compared to systems where voting is voluntary, and which often see large turnout gap in favor of the elderly. We test this stipulation using a unique dataset comprised of more than 100 countries. We find that compulsory voting in fact leads parties to nominate more young candidates, which also leads to increased youth representation in parliament. These results indicate that compulsory voting has the potential to address the barriers preventing youth engagement and ultimately increase democratic representation.

OK Boomer: Understanding Speaker Persuasiveness Across Generations: Feodor Snagovsky (University of Alberta), Samuel Goertz (University of Alberta)
Abstract: Intergenerational resentment appears to be rising in advanced democracies like Canada. While members of younger generations have long thought that governments pay too much attention to the concerns of older voters, millennials are the first generation since 1940 where more than half of members are projected to earn less than their parents (Chetty et al. 2017). Large majorities of people in countries like Canada, Australia, the United States and United Kingdom believe children today will be worse off than their parents, and less than a third of Canadian millennials believe their lives will be better than their parents’ (Clancy et al. 2022; Kalvapalle 2017). These trends have the potential to lead to greater polarization between generations, with members of different generations caricaturing the other as lazy or out of touch (Mueller and McCollum 2022). In this study, we examine whether generational membership itself affects the extent to which people are receptive to political explanations of a contentious intergenerational issue: housing affordability. Using a pre-registered vignette experiment of Canadian adults from Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X and Baby Boomer cohorts, we examine whether co-generational and cross-generational identity influences agreement or disagreement with explanations for a lack of affordable housing. We hypothesize that when a respondent and speaker share the same generational identity (i.e. co-generational), respondents will have greater support for the speaker’s position, be more optimistic about the prospect of policy change, and have greater sympathy for the speaker themselves. By contrast, we expect to see the opposite effect when a respondent and speaker are from different generations (i.e. cross-generational). The findings contribute to our understanding of how intergenerational divisions in the electorate affect policy discussions and political polarization.

Gen-Z and Political Participation in Bangladesh: A Case Study of Student Movements Against Discrimination: Majed Ahmed (Murarichand College), Habibur Rahman Masrur (Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh ), Md Mohsin Miah (Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh)
Abstract: Abstract: Bangladesh’s recent student movement against discrimination highlights a transformative shift in political engagement led by the nation’s Gen-Z. This paper investigates the motivations, methods, and impacts of Gen-Z’s involvement in this anti-discrimination movement, exploring how this generation is reshaping the political landscape of Bangladesh. With an emphasis on digital platforms, the study examines how social media channels, messaging apps, and online communities have enabled Gen-Z activists to raise awareness, mobilize support, and coordinate action more effectively than previous generations. These digital tools not only amplify individual voices but also create collective solidarity among young people who share similar values and goals, providing a dynamic space for discussion, debate, and organization. Using a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys to quantify the levels of political awareness and interviews to delve deeper into personal motivations, this study reveals the complex factors that drive Gen-Z’s participation in such movements. Findings suggest that a commitment to social justice, a rejection of outdated social norms, and a strong sense of responsibility toward societal progress are key motivating factors. The movement against discrimination has ignited a new wave of politically conscious youth eager to challenge traditional structures and advocate for inclusive, democratic reform. This research contributes to a broader understanding of youth-driven activism, emphasizing the role of Gen-Z in fostering long-term political and social change within Bangladesh. By highlighting this movement, the paper underscores the potential influence of Gen-Z on the nation’s future political landscape. Keywords: Gen-Z, political activism, Bangladesh, anti-discrimination movement, political participation, youth engagement, social justice