A new poll has found that American patriotism is at an all-time low among young adults.
According to the latest Gallup poll, pride in national identity has been on a steady decline over the last decade, with the lowest levels recorded among those aged 18 to 34. Only 18 percent of individuals in the 18 to 34 age bracket reported feeling “extremely proud” to be American in the most recent survey. In stark contrast, 50 percent of those aged 55 and above expressed the same sentiment.
Overall, 39 percent of all U.S. adults claimed to be “extremely proud” of their nationality.
To put this into perspective, back in 2013, a much higher 85 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds stated they were “extremely” or “very” proud to be American. The decline in national pride, which began around 2005, has persisted over the years, likely caused by an intense partisanship of political events and developments.
One significant factor influencing these sentiments is the correlation between age and party identification. The poll shows that 60 percent of Republicans claim to be “extremely proud” to be American, while the figures drop to 33 percent for independents and 29 percent for Democrats. However, even within each political affiliation, younger adults are still noticeably less proud of their nationality than older adults.
National identity has long been an integral part of the American ethos, fostering unity and a sense of belonging. The loss of such pride among the youth could signal potential challenges for social cohesion and may further divisions in the country.
Experts and analysts speculate on the reasons behind this decline, citing factors such as dissatisfaction with the state of the nation, disillusionment with political institutions, and perceived failures in addressing pressing issues like climate change and income inequality. Furthermore, the rise of social media and the internet may contribute to a more globalized worldview, potentially diminishing the significance of national identity for younger generations.
