Is Gen Z Conservative?
By: Ben Greeley
Tags: Gen Z, Politics, Conservatives, Alt Right, Youth

This is part of a series on Gen Z

There is much debate as to if Gen Z will be conservative. The answer is not clear cut.

I believe it helps to be on the same page with definitions.

Does Gen Z wish to keep things the way they are?

As evidenced in the research I examined in the previous article, Gen Z is different across the world. Western Gen Z is similar to Eastern Gen Z, and both differ from Gen Z from emerging economies. This makes determining if Gen Z is conservative difficult.

Official surveys suggest Gen Z in the US is by no means conservative. However, this does not imply Gen Z is progressive, for “Conservative” is not equivalent to right wing.

The Pew Research Center contends Gen Z is not majority right leaning or conservative. Pew asserts Gen Z is farther left than millennials, 6% more want an “activist government.” Namely, members of Gen Z are more likely than older generations to look to government to solve problems, rather than businesses and individuals.

However, again, wanting the government to do more does not suggest Gen Z wants the government to do more left wing activities. In fact, polls found eight out of ten members of Gen Z considered themselves fiscally conservative, which does not contradict wanting the government to do more. Wanting the government to spend less is a different issue than wanting the government to legislate.

As mentioned in the previous article, in certain areas, Generation Z is more risk-averse than the Millennials. In 2013, 66% of teenagers had tried alcohol, down from 82% in 1991. A 2016 study done by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that Generation Z had lower teen pregnancy rates, less substance abuse, and higher on-time high school graduation rates compared to Millennials. British consultancy firm The Guild found Gen Z participants ten times more likely than Millennials to dislike tattoos and body piercings. A 2016 American study found that while only 18% of Millennials attended church, church attendance was 41% among Generation Z. Although this modesty is associated with conservatism, it’s a change from millennial habits, and by definition, not conservative.

Business Insider describes Generation Z as more money-oriented, more entrepreneurial and pragmatic about money compared to Millennials, an already very entrepreneurial generation. This does not contradict any prior information.

As mentioned in the last article, Gen Z is more diverse than any prior generation, support marijuana legalization, transgender issues, same sex marriage, and global warming…which might be why Gen Z in the US are reluctant to label themselves as “liberal” or “conservative.”

Unlike populism in the US, which rallies behind Bernie Sanders, populism in Europe takes a harder stance against demographic change. Migrants from Africa have caused intense violence across ethnic and religious lines. European populist parties are anti-migrant, anti-Islam, and yet, socially liberal, pro-LGBT.

The US has lived through ethnic rivalry like this already. Immigration in the 19th century saw urban conflict with Irish gangs, and immigration in the early 20th century brought gang conflict between Italian families. However, with a more liberal view toward immigrants and refugees, the majority of Gen Z does not seem to take this stance.

But that could be changing. The US has been no stranger to immigration related crime, and the US is posed to receive similar migrants as Europe. This could very well result in similar conflict, with similar political pushback.

That pushback may have already started. Just as Gen Z has seen the consequences of climate change and the student loan crisis, they also have had a unique glimpse into what the results of unfettered immigration are, thanks to the internet.

If there’s one conclusion that can be made of Gen Z’s political leanings, it’s that they are not binary, and the failure of the Democratic Party to rally behind Bernie Sanders, Andrew Yang, or Tulsi Gabbard has left a bad taste in many mouths.

Political analysts looking to understand Gen Z would do well to familiarize themselves with a more nuanced look at politics. Gen Z isn’t as polarized as millennials are, and are far more likely to get along with people with different politics. There’s a representation of Gen Z politics that political analysts would do well to familiarize themselves with. You may recognize it…