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Gen Z, Free Inquiry, and the Future of Civic Discourse
Truth prevails when there are no sacred cows in foreign policy nor domestic controversies
This original article by Dr. Pamela Denise Long was informed by conversations with Gen Z voters with divergent viewpoints, including Logan Bricker. Thank you for participating.
In every era of American life, the political center of gravity shifts as new generations come of age. Today, we are witnessing a significant transition in the body politic — from those shaped by the Cold War and its aftermath to a generation raised in the age of global connectivity, instantaneous information, and decentralized thought leadership via the internet. This shift is most evident in the perspectives of Generation Z — the cohort born roughly between 1997 and 2012.
The story of Gen Z’s political awakening cannot be fully understood without first acknowledging the influence of their parents: Generation X and Millennials. Many Gen Xers, shaped by post–Watergate skepticism and the explosion of personal computing, taught their children to question everything. For Gen Xers, “because I said so” worked for obedience to their grandparents/parents, but in politics, it’s no longer enough. This is not mere contrarianism; it is an ingrained value tied to constitutional free speech and…
