Brian Duff discusses 鈥楾he Youth Vote 2016鈥 on MPBN鈥檚 鈥楳aine Calling鈥

Brian Duff
Brian Duff

Brian Duff, Ph.D., associate professor and chair in the Department of Political Science, was a guest on MPBN鈥檚 鈥淢aine Calling鈥 program on Monday, April 18, 2016, joining a discussion on 鈥淭he Youth Vote 2016.鈥

Duff and other panelists shared their views on the extent to which young people of the Millennial Generation are getting involved in this election cycle and in which issues they are most engaged.

Duff explained his belief that Millennials are, in general, disinterested in politics, largely because of their belief that individuals have very little power to affect political outcomes. 鈥淎ll the data that I look at see the Millennials as sort of cynical about politics and uninterested in politics,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey are unique in that way鈥 It鈥檚 very hard to get Millennials interested, and it鈥檚 very hard to get them over their basic sense that the game is rigged and politicians are in it for themselves.鈥

Duff noted that the presidential candidates that are attracting the most Millennial support鈥擠onald Trump and Bernie Sanders鈥攁re both, in their own ways, cynical about the political establishment.