Brexit: Reuniting the generations
The second edition of Common Vision’s Millennial Labs Instazine looks at how we can respond to what has been widely referred to as the ‘generational divide’ on Brexit. Numerous media reports, academic studies, and informal consultations have noted the disappointment, anger and frustration amongst younger people following the 2016 referendum result. But perhaps even more worrying is the sense of political fatigue and alienation that has emerged in the three years since the vote. So, what would a better public dialogue look like, and what practical initiatives might help people of different generations, backgrounds and political perspectives understand each other?
It is no secret that millennials — a term defining people born between the early 1980s and late 1990s — were more likely to have favoured remaining in the European Union than older voters. But the concept of a ‘generational divide’ isn’t simply based on voting patterns in 2016. More important, particularly for the Brexit process moving forward, are the intergenerational differences in social attitudes, economic priorities and political preferences that underpinned these voting behaviours. Any ambition to reunite the country needs to be based in a solid understanding of what sorts of policies, messages and engagement techniques would restore trust in national politics and the democratic process from a range of demographics and population segments, not just those who currently vote in the largest numbers or those who are most polarised in their views.
A generation with no memory of a world before globalisation, and for whom multiculturalism, feminism, the gay rights movement and the green movement have been positive forces, millennials hold concurrent, multiple political identities, and are less aligned with traditional notions of national sovereignty than older voters. This is one reason why the concept of taking back control of our laws and our borders from the EU resonated less with younger age groups. And these attitudes are cohort trends, i.e. unlikely to change with time. Political leaders should therefore take account of how these preferences inform long-term decisions on Britain’s relationship with the rest of the world.
But young people’s attitudes towards Brexit are not solely driven by ‘cosmopolitan’ ideals. Millennials are driven by pragmatism and want to be informed about how Brexit will affect their lives and future plans. A number of research studies emphasise the importance of a strong economy for jobs and living circumstances. Millennials also favour a strong commitment to an internationalist outlook, supporting collaboration with other countries, even if this means a ‘trade off’ with national sovereignty. Immigration is a lower concern overall than for older age groups, with young people more likely to see freedom of movement as an opportunity to travel, work and study abroad.
These values and practical concerns haven’t been reflected in the Brexit debates to date, reinforcing a general sense of political powerless and disengagement of young people. A study by the British Council and think tank Demos found that just 37% of young adults believe that British politics today reflects the issues that matter to young people, with 54% thinking it does not (1). In many other aspects of our lives, the millennial generation is empowered to make informed choices about our futures through an online world of information and knowledge at our fingertips, and a range of ways to exercise our personal agency. In this context, top-down decisions won’t restore trust if we continue to feel disempowered and disengaged from political leaders and institutions.
That’s why reuniting the generations requires government to be more open and consultative about Brexit. The 2016 referendum asked voters for a binary decision on whether or not to remain a member of the EU, not the explicit nature of how and in what manner we should leave. Engaging the millennials in these questions does not mean declaring ‘generational warfare’ or devaluing the interests and priorities of other age groups — people of all ages want better prospects for the young, and a society which cares for the old. There’s still time to ask citizens to feed in views and help set a national framework for a Brexit that people of all backgrounds, ages and political stripes would like to see.
In the meantime, the conversation starts here. Read the collection of articles and then contribute your own thoughts in the comments below or on our Instazine at https://www.instagram.com/millennial_labs/. But remember to consider other perspectives and think about positive solutions which could address the concerns of others.
Finally, it (almost!) goes without saying that young people — of any definition — are not a homogenous group and there are of course differences within, as well as between, age cohorts. Nevertheless as a generation we have a number of shared values and common priorities that can serve as the foundations for an inclusive discussion about Brexit, and what we want to see from our future society, economy and culture.
References
This article first appeared on the Millennial Labs Instazine, an Instagram-first magazine hosted by Common Vision. Our second Instazine edition invites you to consider what it would take to help different generations and backgrounds to understand each others’ perspectives and contribute to the new government’s #Brexit plans moving forward. Find out more: www.instagram.com/millennial_labs
Common Vision ( www.covi.org.uk ) is a think tank working to change the narrative around our shared future. We aim to revitalise public diplomacy by championing deliberative dialogue and encouraging established and new leaders to work together to turn collective social challenges into opportunities.
