Youthquake Polska: Elections under conditions of heightened polarisation

Ahead of the Polish parliamentary elections on 15 October 2023,
political campaigns are running at full steam. From coupling the
election with a referendum, to employing an increasingly sharp
rhetoric against Poland’s neighbours Germany, and, as of recently,
Ukraine, the ruling Law and Justice party is eager to mobilize
voters and maintain power. One group could play a decisive role in
changing the future power dynamics: ZOiS researchers Félix
Krawatzek and Hakob Matevosyan have surveyed Polish 18 to 34 year
olds on current social issues. From how political identifications
and attitudes towards current issues like migration and the war in
Ukraine translate into voting intentions, to how family relations
and intergenerational dynamics influence perceptions of political
representation: The discussions of the finding reveals Poland’s
youth is highly motivated to vote and noticeably turning away from
bigger parties and towards the right-wing Confederation party,
especially among men.