Does Ideological Extremisms within Generations Explain Electoral Mobilization? The Evidence from Poland 2011–2023

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dc.abstract.enDoes ideological extremism within generations explain electoral mobilization? While much of the literature on voter turnout highlights the importance of system-level polarization and the congruence between voters’ ideological positions and party options, the influence of intra-generational peer dynamics on voting behavior remains less explored. Moreover, unlike the ambivalence often produced by cross-pressures in intimate networks such as families or close friends, divergence from generational peers may heighten the salience of political identity and encourage mobilization. This paper argues that individuals with more extreme ideological views relative to the average within their generation are more likely to participate in elections. Rather than a condition of alienation, ideological extremism operates as an active force that compels individuals to defend their political identities, either by resisting perceived threats from opposing ideologies or by articulating deeply held convictions. Using data from the Polish National Election Study (POLNES) collected between 2011 and 2023, this study examines how divergence from generational norms functions as a distinctive form of extremism that mobilizes voters. The findings indicate that ideological extremism within generations increases the likelihood of voter turnout, offering new insights into the interplay between ideological extremism, generational contexts, and electoral mobilization.
dc.affiliationInstytut Nauk Społecznych
dc.contributor.authorSychowiec, Maciej
dc.contributor.authorCześnik, Mikołaj
dc.contributor.authorSzczupska, Oliwia
dc.date.access2026-03-27
dc.date.accessioned2026-03-27T08:32:48Z
dc.date.available2026-03-27T08:32:48Z
dc.date.created2026-03-25
dc.date.issued2026-03-25
dc.description.abstract<jats:p>Does ideological extremism within generations explain electoral mobilization? While much of the literature on voter turnout highlights the importance of system-level polarization and the congruence between voters’ ideological positions and party options, the influence of intra-generational peer dynamics on voting behavior remains less explored. Moreover, unlike the ambivalence often produced by cross-pressures in intimate networks such as families or close friends, divergence from generational peers may heighten the salience of political identity and encourage mobilization. This paper argues that individuals with more extreme ideological views relative to the average within their generation are more likely to participate in elections. Rather than a condition of alienation, ideological extremism operates as an active force that compels individuals to defend their political identities, either by resisting perceived threats from opposing ideologies or by articulating deeply held convictions. Using data from the Polish National Election Study (POLNES) collected between 2011 and 2023, this study examines how divergence from generational norms functions as a distinctive form of extremism that mobilizes voters. The findings indicate that ideological extremism within generations increases the likelihood of voter turnout, offering new insights into the interplay between ideological extremism, generational contexts, and electoral mobilization.</jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.grantnumber2022/45/B/HS5/03493
dc.description.granttitlePolskie Generalne Studium Wyborcze (PGSW) 2023
dc.description.sdgPeaceJusticeAndStrongInstitutions
dc.description.versionfinal_author
dc.identifier.doi10.1177/08883254261432796
dc.identifier.eissn1533-8371
dc.identifier.issn0888-3254
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/2228
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08883254261432796
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationnauki o polityce i administracji
dc.pbn.affiliationnauki socjologiczne
dc.rightsOther
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_REPOSITORY
dc.subject.envoter turnout
dc.subject.engenerational context
dc.subject.enPoland
dc.subject.enpolarization
dc.subject.enideological extremism
dc.swps.sciencecloudnosend
dc.titleDoes Ideological Extremisms within Generations Explain Electoral Mobilization? The Evidence from Poland 2011–2023
dc.title.journalEast European Politics and Societies
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle