The Effect of Generation Z’s Understanding of Free Will and Fatalism on Their Political Choice: A Field Study

İbrahim Aksakal () and Müjdat Avcı
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İbrahim Aksakal: Department of Social Work, Faculty of Economics and Adaministrative Sciences, Erzincan Binali Yildirim University, 24002 Erzincan, Turkey
Müjdat Avcı: Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, 80010 Osmaniye, Turkey

Social Sciences, 2024, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: The aim of this study is to determine whether the fatalistic tendencies of young adult university students predict their political preferences. For this purpose, the fatalism tendency scale consisting of four sub-dimensions was applied, and the predictive power of the obtained data on political preferences was examined. The study sample consisted of 630 young adult university students (male 294, female 336) between the ages of 18 and 26. Independent variables are fatalism sub-dimensions (predetermination, personal control, luck, and superstition), and dependent variables are political leaders and political party preferences. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to determine the effect of independent variables on dependent variables. The analysis results revealed that the sub-dimensions of fatalism, predetermination, luck, and superstition significantly predicted voters’ preferences for political leaders. No significant relationship could be detected between the change in participants’ personal control tendency and their preference for political leaders. In the second stage of the analysis, it was examined whether the tendency towards fatalism affected the choice of political party. It was observed that the sub-dimensions of predetermination, luck, and superstition were significant predictors of political party preferences. There was no significant relationship between change in personal control tendency and political party preference. The research results revealed that if the tendency towards fatalism changes, there are also significant changes in political preferences.

Keywords: tendency of fatalism; political choice; generation Z; university students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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