Download full text
(5.154Mb)
Citation Suggestion
Please use the following Persistent Identifier (PID) to cite this document:
https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-87901-3
Exports for your reference manager
Young trendsetters: How young voters fuel electoral volatility
[journal article]
Abstract Sociological theory posits that social change occurs first and foremost among young people, who set trends that may eventually carry over to older citizens. This study examined to what extent this proposition applies to electoral shifts by comparing parties’ electoral gains among young (age <25) and... view more
Sociological theory posits that social change occurs first and foremost among young people, who set trends that may eventually carry over to older citizens. This study examined to what extent this proposition applies to electoral shifts by comparing parties’ electoral gains among young (age <25) and older voters (age >24) in 21 Western established democracies between 1948 and 2019. An analysis of 219 national election surveys revealed that winning parties typically gained disproportionately among young voters. This youth bonus was even stronger for new parties, whose electoral breakthroughs were importantly facilitated by youths. Electoral shifts among young voters furthermore predicted similar changes among older citizens in the subsequent election. This indicates that young people are not only more sensitive to electoral trends, but that they can also set trends that eventually carry over to older citizens. Young voters should therefore be seen as important drivers of electoral volatility.... view less
Keywords
voter; party; generation; old age; trend; political change; young adult
Classification
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Free Keywords
young voters; electoral volatility; new parties; Politbarometer
Document language
English
Publication Year
2022
Page/Pages
p. 1-13
Journal
Electoral Studies, 75 (2022)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2021.102425
ISSN
0261-3794
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed