Are Generations in Conflict? Rethinking Generational Disagreements

Many of us have sat through heated family discussions at the dinner table, eventually concluding that we should avoid discussing politics to ‘keep the peace’. Often, we chalk up our disagreements to a generational gap. In our polarised world, older and younger people are increasingly being positioned as being on opposing sides of important issues like climate change, housing or immigration.  

The recent US Presidential Elections sharply brought into focus age-driven voting choices with over 50% of all 18–29-year-olds voting for Harris. At the same time, Trump secured the support of over 50% of the electorate aged 45-64. Even during electoral campaigning, the differences in ideological stances between the two were visibly extreme. Harris's “policy-focused approach” versus Trumps’ “populist nationalist rhetoric” further entrenched political divides.  

The fourth panel event of the Disagreeing Well public series –– ‘Disagreeing Well Across Generations’ –– set out to challenge this assumption and examine the roots of the generational gap. Held on October 23, 2024, at Bloomsbury Theatre, this panel was organised as part of UCL’s wider Disagreeing Well Campaign.  

Chaired by journalist Fraser Nelson (former Editor at The Spectator), the panel featured experts across diverse generational backgrounds including –– Professor Bobby Duffy (Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Policy Institute at King’s College London), David Johnston (Former Chief Executive at Social Mobility Foundation), Timi Okuwa (CEO at Black Equity Organisation), Kwajo Tweneboa (25-year-old activist from south London), and Rawleka Wilson (Lead at People of Colour Network, UCL's Student Union).  

Watch the live video recording here

The discussion tackled generational divides to move beyond stereotypes and create genuine understanding. Opening remarks from the panellists emphasised a shared belief that, as Rawleka noted, “Disagreeing well doesn’t have to be a comfortable experience.” The speakers stressed the need to create spaces for meaningful conversation –– where people listen to hear and understand than to respond, and where voices across generations are equally valued.  

Curious about how intergenerational dialogue might be fostered on a university campus — where students are typically surrounded by peers of similar age –– I asked Rawleka how we might create such spaces at UCL.  

“One of the good things we can do is organise events like this Disagreeing Well panel. As a student officer I have been able to engage with people across different generations, and that is a really good start. We need to make a regular effort to create community spaces where our students can converse with our academic staff and learn from each other’s perspectives. This gives us a voice and a platform to share our experiences as equal participants.” 

During the panel discussion, Timi highlighted families as a primary space for fostering intergenerational dialogue. Families represent intergenerational living in action, but they can also become the most challenging place to start such conversations. Inspired by Timi’s points, I asked Rawleka backstage about her top tips to encourage students to start these conversations with their parents and grandparents. She stressed the importance of approaching family members with empathy and understanding.  

“The first thing I would do is remember to meet them where they are, because your family members, your parents –– they are still navigating their life and understanding their views and how they are shaped by the world. I suggest having bidirectional conversations where we listen to understand them and not to convince them. When we can understand their opinion, even if different from ours, rather than dismissing them, we can find common ground and create a safe space to discuss and share our differences.” 

“At the same time, it is also important to acknowledge that oftentimes it can be emotionally challenging to discuss sensitive issues within families. It is always wise to take a step back, prioritise your mental health and set healthy boundaries.” 

Bobby then shared thought-provoking insights from his research, underscoring that generational gaps are frequently catastrophised in a way they don’t need to be. Often, we come across social narratives which pit generations against each other. For example, the stereotypes of the ‘lazy millennials’ or that ‘Gen Z has no work ethic.’ Such narratives overlook material factors like rising debt, inequality and financial insecurity that shape behaviours across generations.  

In reality, according to Bobby, there is only a marginal difference between older and younger people when it comes to existential issues like climate change. However, when it comes to cultural topics such as trans rights, or gender identity, younger generations are twice as likely to accept emergent social trends compared to their older counterparts. 

To understand his view on possible solutions to this, I asked Bobby: “How can we reconcile the fact that younger generations are navigating great challenges like the climate crisis and economic recession, the causes of which are often attributed to older generations, while also finding ways to work together?” 

Bobby says, it needs to start with understanding each other better. “The key trend from my research is that the big change that we have seen over the past few decades is not increased generational conflict but increased generational separation. We are living apart by age in a way that humans just have not done in history. We’re more age-segregated than we have ever been.” 

“The trouble with that is when you are not in contact with other people, you start to stereotype them. You start to misunderstand what their motives are. [We need to find] ways to create positive contact between different generations so they understand each other better.”  

He also addressed economic anxiety, which is increasingly common among younger generations and worsened by the decline in social mobility. Parents are increasingly concerned about their children’s financial prospects, as wealth becomes concentrated in fewer hands. 

“It is true that economic fortune favours baby boomers … but we have a lot of understanding and sympathy for younger generations because we are very connected with them through our families. It’s not that we are at loggerheads on this, but it's more that we are drifting apart.”  

Building on this theme of active intergenerational engagement, Bobby recommended creating spaces for younger and older people to live alongside each other, thus reducing our physical separation.  

The second key theme that emerged from the panel discussion was the role of political parties, and how party identification often varies by age. Whenever politicians embed culture wars into their platforms – particularly around divisive policies like immigration – they risk alienating certain demographics by building in an age gradient.  

For example, according to YouGov, in the 20204 US elections immigration was a top priority for 77% of Trump supporters, versus only 14% of Harris supporters—marking the largest gap among the eight issues polled. 

As mentioned above, age-based voting charecterised the recent elections with Harris winning over the younger voters, and Trump leading with older voters in the electorate.  

Typically, as Bobby noted, younger people who have not been “socialised into previous social norms” are more comfortable with change. This can make them less responsive to the culturally charged issues that might resonate with older voters. 

Political engagement also varies by age. David observed that older peoples’ higher engagement with their MPs often creates the impression that young people are disengaged.  

A House of Commons research briefing notes that political disengagement among the youth has been documented with studies showing lower participation in traditional or formal politics such as voting and party membership in younger people. 

However, young people tend to be engaged in other ways, such as through protest and online discourse, yet are often disillusioned with the current political system.  

Overcoming this will require younger generations to find pathways to interact and engage with political leaders, to make sure that their voices are heard and conveyed. But it also demands that political leaders equally try to engage with their younger constituents to address their concerns.  

The disconnect between older and younger people serves to reinforce echo chambers. These entrench generational divides as everyone begins to feed into a cycle of confirmation bias –– “Across all ages, people tend to think others agree with them,” David noted.  

Drawing from his experience as an MP, David offered an interesting perspective on age-based divides. Differences on important issues like housing, immigration, and climate change, he suggested, often align more closely with class divisions shaped by factors like education and wealth, rather than age alone. 

25-year-old activist Kwajo Tweneboa’s  insights into housing policy and advocacy further illustrated this intersection of age and class. He explained that while housing is a necessity, the UK’s housing crisis has left many struggling and without decent accommodation, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities. 

He proposed the active inclusion of grassroots perspectives, urging policymakers to actively involve stakeholders –– particularly younger people facing housing insecurity –– in shaping policy decisions. This approach would address generational concerns and bridge the gap between those most affected by the housing crisis and the policymakers responsible for housing policy.  

A third theme from the conversation concerned the impact of language, media and discourse. Generations engage with the news (online and print) and media, particularly social media in vastly different ways. For example, a 2019 Digital News Report highlighted stark differences in news consumption and behaviours among younger people. They found that younger people relied heavily on digital and social media and displayed weaker identification and loyalty to news brands in comparison to their older counterparts.  

In the fast-paced social media landscape, meaningful conversations that demand respect and effort are often overshadowed by algorithms that prioritise engagement metrics. The loudest voices are amplified and gain visibility, while thoughtful dialogue is sidelined. Building on this, Fraser reminded us of the importance of civil discourse, digital literacy, and regulation to improve online interactions. 

Online regulation is an important theme discussed in-depth previously at our Disagreeing Well in an Online World Event with Dr Kaitlyn Regehr, (Associate Professor and the Deputy Programme Director of Digital Humanities in the Department of Information Studies at UCL). Here, she discussed her work on the Online Safety Bill and proposed framing internet regulation as a public health concern, necessitating a collaborative approach between Big Tech, policymakers, and researchers. 

The challenge, then, lies in creating spaces where diverse voices are valued, thoughtful contributions are encouraged, and intergenerational conversations can flourish. Addressing these digital divides is especially important as our society becomes rapidly connected and interdependent.  

We live in an interdependent world where the old need the young and the young need the old. While the global ageing population concentrates political power among older people, younger people are facing the sharp impacts of rising inequality. For example, the older generation’s pensions and healthcare rely on the younger working-age population, while younger people depend on economic stability and policies set by older leaders for jobs and affordable housing.  

The housing crisis affects younger people seeking homeownership, while older generations often benefit from accumulated wealth. These interconnected issues show how the success of one generation affects the well-being of others, necessitating collective solutions. Reconciling our intergenerational divides cannot end with creating spaces for conversation; it must lead to supportive relationships rooted in mutual respect and shared purpose. Initiatives like Intergenerational England aim to reduce the physical and social separation between age groups, fostering collaboration and understanding across generational lines. From mentorship and mutual support to joint efforts in tackling inequality, these connections are essential for a more cohesive society.  

In the aftermath of a highly polarised election and widening age divides, the need for Disagreeing Well has never been greater.