The book examines the contemporary polarization of American politics along generational lines and what this portends for the future. Generational polarization in American politics today is unprecedented and to a significant degree helps to define American politics. Disparate attitudes among older and younger Americans are an important catalyst for the polarization in today’s political landscape.

In Generational Polarization and the Future of American Politics, Patrick Fisher demonstrates that these developments are deeply intertwined. Drawing on decades of electoral, survey, and public opinion data, Fisher traces the partisan foundations of generational polarization and examines how cultural conflict, ideological change, racial attitudes, and shifting social identities have intensified political divisions across age cohorts. He shows how generational differences shape voting behavior, party attachments, and perceptions of democratic institutions, while also influencing representation in government. By placing generations at the center of contemporary political analysis, Fisher offers a new framework for understanding polarization and assesses what America’s changing generational landscape means for the future of its democracy.

Patrick Fisher is a Professor of Political Science at Seton Hall University. Previous books by Dr. Fisher include The Generational Gap in American Politics (2023), Insufficient Representation: The Disconnect between Congress and Its Citizens (2018), Demographic Gaps in American Political Behavior (2014), and The Politics of Taxing and Spending (2009).