Abstract
If you’re looking to the United States for hints on how young Australian men will vote in the upcoming federal election, you might find yourself puzzled by their apparent shift towards conservatism. Young people drifting right isn’t a US-only trend – it’s happening across Europe, Canada, and even in Tunisia, Taiwan, and South Korea.
But in Australia, the picture is mixed. Long-term trends show both men and women shifting left, though young women at a faster pace. Yet recent polls find 37 per cent of men aged 18–34 back the opposition leader of the conservative Liberal-National Coalition Peter Dutton, compared to 27 per cent of women.
Is this cause for alarm? What does this support actually mean? Does Australia even have a hardline populist leader to rally these men? And does backing the Coalition equate to embracing Trump-style hard-right values?
But in Australia, the picture is mixed. Long-term trends show both men and women shifting left, though young women at a faster pace. Yet recent polls find 37 per cent of men aged 18–34 back the opposition leader of the conservative Liberal-National Coalition Peter Dutton, compared to 27 per cent of women.
Is this cause for alarm? What does this support actually mean? Does Australia even have a hardline populist leader to rally these men? And does backing the Coalition equate to embracing Trump-style hard-right values?
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Specialist publication | The Interpreter |
| Publication status | Published - 28 Feb 2025 |
Keywords
- Politics
- Conservatism
- Young males
- Right-wing politics