Global Survey Reveals Shift in Political Sentiments
A comprehensive survey released by Glocalities, an international research agency, has unveiled a significant shift in political sentiments across the globe, with a particular focus on the attitudes of young American men. The study, which spanned nearly a decade and encompassed over 300,000 individuals from 20 countries, aimed to measure the balance between hope and despair, as well as control and freedom—essentially mapping out the spectrum from conservatism to liberalism.
The results indicated that while the world has generally shifted towards liberalism since 2014, there has been a concurrent rise in pessimism. Young people worldwide have expressed a sense of being let down by societal structures, with Martijn Lampert, head of research at Glocalities, noting an especially pronounced increase in despair among young adults in the U.S. compared to their EU counterparts.
Among the American demographic, young men stood out as the only group to have become more conservative over the past decade. The survey, which included 14,526 Americans and specifically 2,242 men aged 18-34, suggested a trend towards favoring control over freedom.
Social Media’s Role in Political Leanings
Lampert pointed out that social media algorithms may be exacerbating this shift by exposing moderately conservative young men to more extreme conservative influences. This trend is seen as partly responsible for the rise of radical right anti-establishment parties in various European elections.
Young Women: The Vanguard of Liberalism
Conversely, the survey highlighted that young women globally are becoming increasingly liberal and anti-patriarchal. While grappling with concerns over career and financial stability, women aged 18-24 have shown a marked move towards liberal values, with their scores rising from 3.55 to 3.78 on a scale where 5 represents the most liberal stance.
In contrast, young men are focusing more on achieving social and economic status, upholding conservative family values, and ideals such as competition, bravery, and honor. In the U.S., young men aged 18-34 have seen a slight decrease in liberal attitudes.
The report did reveal a silver lining among older demographics. Individuals over 55 years of age were the only groups that grew more hopeful and more liberal over the decade. To assess these shifts in social values, Glocalities evaluated responses to questions about patriarchy, gender roles, same-sex marriage, and premarital cohabitation. Sentiment was measured based on future prospects and feelings of societal betrayal.
The findings from this extensive survey provide valuable insights into the evolving political landscape as nations approach pivotal elections, including the U.S. presidential poll and the European Union parliamentary election.
