Differences in changed political environment for <30
Why does this segment of population not participate in politics like older generations?
Is there a new political paradigm?
How will that change political conflicts/issues?

1.) loss of "social capital",  diminishment of civil society
 a. trad. institutions less able to socialize citizens & connect w/ politics 
   b. Putnam-main cause-communication technology, "virtual community" vs. interpersonal community
  c. Does "virtual" community threaten, replace, or augment interpersonal community?

2.) not enough is asked of citizens
   a. public input reduced to opinion polls, not active participation & deliberation
   b. lack of public understanding/commitment to policy choices
   c. open-ness to manipulation of opinion rather than trust in public judgment
3. shallowness of opinions as result

tonight: impact of changes in political/economic environment from those of earlier gens

         1.) Shaping influence of cultural, economic, technological changes
         2.)How do we define the "political" for this generation?
         3.) What  influences political activism or apathy? Are they unique?
         4.) What political rhetoric would be most persuasive to this generation?
         5.) how is this dotNet generation different than the boomers?

A. Political Socialization theories:
   1. three things influence political behavior & outlook
      a. "life cycle" effects
         1. <30 still in transition
         2. marriage, kids, property ownership will creat political involvement

       b. 'period' effects
         1. pivotal event will politicize everyone
         2. ex. WWII  (all ages affected)

      c. "generational" effects

      1. under30  expected to be less involved politically, except for extraordinary circumstances
           a. ex. Vietnam War for 1960's generation
           b. very real impact of govt. policies on life
           c. war in Iraq different effect- volunteer military means not shared national experience
      2. compared to "greatest generation", different experience

     3. Millenials less involved than previous generations-especially "Boomers"
         a. less aligned w/ political parties
         b. less likely to engage in conventional behavior
         c. more individualistic
     4. viewed as serious problem which will increase the "disconnect" between citizens & leaders

Why ?
    a. Watergate impact  ("period" effect)
        1. changes in reporting on political figures-(more intrusive than before)
        2. drop in level of trust in political officials (entire public)
        3. increase in cynicism towards government in general
        --post-911 reaction:  "passive patriotism"

    b. TV and other technology (Putnam article)
      1. diminish civil society, alienate individuals
      2. under 30, most conversant w/ technology, strongest impact
      3.  lack of historical understanding of <30,
         a. unaware of sacrifices of previous generations
         b. disconnect between political outlook of  different generations

   C. changes in economy and culture 
      1. creates different political mindset
          a. unrecognizable to Boomers (implicit comparison)
          b. not reflected by either major party
          c. seems more materialistic than previous gens

* difference in political outlook from Boomers is because of difference in political, economic, cultural situations between generations
 

Boomers                                                           Millenials

ideologically-driven                             pragmatists
(PC or fundamentalist)

economic prosperity,                        econ. insecurity,stagnating wages
upward mobility                                increasing economic inequality

permanent employment                     temporary/multiple jobs, the norm

savings and investments, norm           high levels of debt (personal,natl)

political efficacy,                                 distrust in politics as solution
(civil rights, women's movement)       (social security, environment)

strong trad. inst.                                      weak institutions

Dems-socially lib, fiscally lib              independent, 3rd parties
Reps-socially con,, fiscally con        socially lib , fiscally con.
                                                             concerned w/ gap, rich & poor

conventional political                      participation outside of politics
 participation                                    volunteerism,  cultural, on-line,symbolic protest

stable identities                                 fluid identities

technologically-challenged               technology-literate

more cohesive identities               increasingly fragmented identities
 
    What will political Impact of Millenials be:

     1. 2004 campaign--efforts to "woo" the youth vote
        a. viewed as 'up for grabs" by candidates    rockthevote
        b. both candidates appealed through "symbols"  to youth
        c. senior citizens got policy initiatives, in contrast  
    2. strong increase in turnout from previous elections (9% increase)
       a. 2008, high turnout from <30 voters (60%)

 3. strong support for candidates that reflect their agenda, regardless of party
     a. Obama, new generation of political figures
         1. Ron Paul
         2. Bobby Jindahl
     b. reform of corrupt system
        1. campaign finance reform, lobbying reform, end 'earmarks'
        2. end corporate welfare
        3. maintain social investments by govt. (education)
   c. alternative to current two-party system
        1. (3rd parties, candidate-centered)
        2. different social/political concerns
           a. interracial dating, gay marriage less an issue for younger generations
           b. more opposed to abortion, though
  d. concern for impact of climate change, 'green' business practices
  e. change in old ideological positions, not business vs environment
      1. 2008 'hinge moment' in politics
         a. global war on terror, energy technology, globalization, etc.
         b. economic sustainability, global aid- genocide, hunger, aids, etc.

      2. boomers- war, racism, inequality, sexism
        a. sharp divisions, no longer as clear

4. Is Barack Obama a new type of candidate? Are past Vietnam era politics?

  a, not a boomer, but Gen X
  b. transcends some of the divisions
      1. religion, race, agenda
      2. fluid identity, global roots
      3. Springfield announcement, using imagery of Abraham Lincoln
  c. he calls for new paradigm, post-boomer ideas

5. possibility of new political agenda
  a. only if political action transcends cultural protest
  b. Are we watching this happen in response to war in Iraq/afghanistan?
      1. have we come to a consensus?
      2. no one attacks the troops, unlike Vietnam 

 6 .increasing use of communication technology for political use   on-line
     a.  "virtual" organizing
     b. petitions & emails to legislators
     c. bloggers  ex
     d. internet primary news source- not TV or newspapers
     e. reflects distance/lack of personal interaction w/ political figures

  7. more global concerns, info delivery easier
     a. Darfur, Gaza, diasporic politics

8. increasing use of cultural, imaged-based methods of persuasion
   a. ironic, satirical tone  onion
   b. reflects merging of culture/politics   js
        1. more likely to be politically active through culture than politics  
        2.  cultural products- explicitly political
          a. films, TV, music, food 
          b. musical groups, protest status quo