The Young Right: Are Gen Z Turning Fascist?
The notion that fascism is confined to middle-aged, beer-swilling nationalists rioting in the streets is outdated. It is becoming increasingly clear that reactionary politics have a strong foothold on our younger generation. Shockingly, a study suggests that more than half of people in the UK aged 13 to 27 believe the country would be better off as a dictatorship. Even more worryingly, 150 of those arrested in last summer’s anti-immigration riots were children, some as young as 11.
This shift toward the far right has been apparent for some time. Gen Z, despite their reputation for progressivism, has also embraced a distinct brand of puritanical traditionalism. Many young people eschew hedonistic activities, including drinking culture, and rail against sexually explicit material in art and media. This rigidity has, for some, translated into a broader rejection of progressive ideals.
The rise of right-wing internet influencers, particularly within the ‘manosphere’, has played a crucial role in shaping these views in young people. Public figures such as Andrew Tate have captivated young men with hyper-masculine rhetoric, advocating for dominance and control. Political trends reflect this shift as well — Reform UK is now the third most popular party among young men aged 18 to 24, according to YouGov’s post-election analysis.
Across the Atlantic, young MAGA supporters revel in their ability to use outdated slurs without social repercussions, viewing it as a victory against what they see as leftist ‘cancel culture’. This new wave of conservatism is not made up of the rural, old-fashioned voters traditionally associated with the right. Instead, it is driven by young, well-connected, urban, and extremely online individuals.
Many of these young conservatives see themselves as pushing back against what they perceive as the left’s obsession with identity politics and linguistic policing. ‘I hate watching the things I say’, one self-described right-winger admitted. ‘I took a much farther horseshoe around this time.’ Influencer Arynne Wexler echoes this sentiment: ‘Conservatives used to be uptight, but the left has become the funless, sexless party. Not that the right is the party of sex, necessarily. We have fun. What does a conservative even look like anymore?’
This new conservative establishment isn’t just limited to obscure internet subcultures. Increasingly, influential figures in tech and entertainment are aligning themselves with right-wing ideologies. Billionaires like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg wield enormous influence over public discourse. Even some celebrities—such as Carrie Underwood, Snoop Dogg, and the Village People—have been associated with conservative movements in some capacity.
The Power 30 Awards, Spotify-hosted inauguration brunches, and Kim Kardashian’s Instagram story of the First Lady all signal a cultural shift –right-wing politics are becoming mainstream among the younger generation. Some conservatives now refer to themselves as ‘normal’, positioning themselves as representatives of the silent majority against a supposedly radical left.
However, this rightward shift does not mean Gen Z is entirely lost to reactionary politics. Nearly half (47%) of young people surveyed believe society must be ‘radically changed through revolution’. While many are embracing authoritarian conservatism, there remains a strong undercurrent of revolutionary leftist sentiment.
The psychological roots of this shift to the right may lie in this youth’s perception of the state of the world. Professor of psychology Michele Gelfand has found that in times of perceived threat – whether war, economic instability, or climate disaster – societies tend to become more restrictive. ‘When people perceive threat – whether real or imagined – they want strong rules and autocratic leaders to help them survive’, she explains. In a study published in the Behavioural Scientist, she found that even brief exposure to false information about terrorism, overpopulation, or pandemics made participants more likely to favor authoritarian policies.
When threats are framed as coming from outside the ‘group’, populist strongmen capitalize on fear, offering clear targets for frustration. This is precisely how far-right movements gain traction. The left’s challenge, then, is to provide a more compelling alternative – a vision of the future that is hopeful, encompassing, and inspiring.
Dismissing Gen Z as a lost cause only strengthens the far-right, pushing more disillusioned young people toward radicalisation. Instead, millennials and older progressives must work harder to engage young people in activism. The desire for revolution is still alive, but the battle remains over whether it will be a movement for liberation – or for authoritarianism.