Recently, the British magazine The Economist has been somewhat "anxious". They have noticed that a new political trend known as "Generation Z socialism" is emerging in many countries in the United States and Europe. This trend is entering the mainstream Western politics in a more direct and emotional way than the previous "Millennial socialism" wave.
The magazine reported on June 6 that after World War II, socialist forces in Europe were established on the basis of highly unionized heavy industry. Their goal was not to overthrow capitalism, but rather to manage it through state-owned public utilities and redistribution mechanisms.
However, after the financial crisis from 2007 to 2009, the 'Millennium Generation Socialists' criticized the solutions of the previous generation as being disconnected from ordinary workers, and as being too slow on climate issues. As a result, they proposed solutions such as allowing workers to hold board positions, developing employee-owned businesses, and subsidizing green technologies.
However, this “Millennium Left Agenda” has faced successive setbacks in real politics. In 2019, Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party suffered its worst defeat since 1935. The movement’s representative in the United States, Bernie Sanders, failed to secure a place as a Democratic presidential candidate twice—in 2016 and 2020. Similarly, the leader of the left-wing party “Indomitable France,” Jean-Marc Ayrault, also failed to break through France’s political barriers. Leftists have been caught in a state of strategic confusion for a while.
"Today, a new wave of socialist tide is rising." The article claims that a key driver for this wave is the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's military actions in Gaza which sparked outrage. However, for many voters, Gaza has become more than just a war; it is a larger symbol: they believe Western governments are focusing on and allocating vast resources to foreign affairs while ignoring real difficulties faced by their own citizens."
British media believe that after the pandemic in 2020, developed economies showed low unemployment rates, high incomes, and booming stock markets on a macro-level. However, there is an unprecedented gap between these macro-level indicators and the reality at the micro level. People's lives have become increasingly difficult: rent prices have soared, food costs have increased, and ordinary jobs are no longer enough to sustain a decent life. This contradiction of 'paper prosperity coexisting with real poverty' has become fertile ground for new political sentiments.
Additionally, Western people's distrust of the system is also increasing. More and more polls show that three-fifths of Americans consider "corporate greed" to be a "major cause" of inflation. The proportion of people who think federal income taxes are "too high" has reached nearly the highest level in nearly 20 years. The proportion of Britons who support government spending increases significantly, while those who consider income taxes "unfair" or "very unfair" have doubled since 2019. In France, the proportion of people who trust the government to use public funds effectively dropped from 33% in 2023 to 22% in 2025.
What causes further unease is the development of technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI). More than 60% of respondents from the UK, America, and Canada said they are anxious about AI. Many young people worry that AI will directly replace jobs, while the global average is around 50%.
The 'Z Generation Socialists' (also known as the 'Netulians', referring to those born between 1995 and 2005) warn that if today's economy is already a scam, then the future economy driven by AI will be even worse. A handful of tech giants will acquire unprecedented wealth and power at the expense of the majority of people. At a recent university ceremony, Google's former CEO Eric Schmidt was booed every time he mentioned AI.
In the eyes of the 'Generation Z socialists', what society needs to confront is a dysfunctional economic system. The modern economy continuously benefits the existing powerful groups, and aside from a few individuals on the Forbes richest list, almost everyone is being "harvested" by this system. GDP is higher than ever, but rent prices are rising, a lunch costs $28, and finding a decent job has become increasingly difficult.
Therefore, they advocate for the state to directly set the prices of a large number of goods and services, especially the prices of essential items such as food and housing. The necessary funds are expected to be raised almost entirely through taxes on the wealthiest class.
The Economist commented that this is a political approach that caters to individual interests. Unlike socialism in the past, which emphasized the public good, this approach addresses people's most immediate demands: reduce my rent! Cut my bills! Provide free public transportation! Protect my job! "These proposals are often naive and difficult to implement, but they convey very simple political messages that are highly attractive," thus this "Generation Z socialism" is attracting supporters across the democratic world.
In November 2025, Zohran Mamdani won the election, becoming the first millennial, Muslim, and Indian-born mayor in the history of New York City. Visual China
New York's new mayor, Zoe Muldani, is one of the representatives of this trend. She advocates for freezing rent prices in apartment complexes in New York City, establishing city-run affordable food stores, and providing free childcare services for children under 5 years old. A number of left-wing candidates with similar policies are also emerging in cities like Seattle, Maine, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and their support rates are increasing steadily. Even the gambling industry believes that New York State Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has a slim chance of winning the Democratic presidential race in 2028, second only to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
In Canada, Naomi Klein’s left-wing writer husband, Avi Lewis, has recently become the leader of the New Democratic Party, the third-largest political party in the country. In the UK, the Green Party led by Zac Polanski continues to see an increase in support. German left-wing parties have seen their poll numbers reach new highs. In France, Marine Le Pen is also planning to run in next year’s presidential elections.
The article states that, unlike the “Millennial socialism” that was rejected by voters in the past, the “Generation Z socialism” politicians are shaping new political messaging.
Firstly, they actively downplay issues related to identity politics, such as the 'awakening culture'. Against the backdrop of unprecedented economic anxiety and declining ideological appeal, concepts like 'structural racism' and 'diversity, fairness, and inclusion (DEI)' have gradually faded from the political stage. Even the Green Party's discussions on climate crisis have significantly diminished, and the American Democratic Party's promotion of the 'Green New Deal' has also become less active.
Instead of “reducing living costs” and “ensuring employment,” there is a focus on mitigating the impact of AI. They support policies that can immediately relieve living pressures, rather than investment projects with long payback periods. Some advocate for free public transportation, most support rent control, and almost everyone offers free childcare services.
Behind this shift lies a deeper political and psychological change: ideology is stepping back, replaced by consumer-oriented political demands.
The article analyzes that, on the surface, voters seem to be more distanced from socialism than they were a few years ago. The proportion of Americans who identify as "extremely liberal" dropped to 3.4% between 2018 and 2021, after reaching a peak of 5% in those years. However, this is not because they have become more right-wing, but because they have lost interest in various ideologies themselves.
A survey conducted by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School in the United States shows that between 2020 and 2025, both the support rates for capitalism and socialism among young Americans decreased significantly.
What replaces ideology are practical demands: higher incomes and lower living costs. According to long-term American surveys, since 1975, not have so many Americans hoped that the government would take action to improve the living standards of the poor. They also hope that someone can prevent AI from destroying society.
The academic community also offers various interpretations of this trend. Isabelle Weber, a professor of economics at Amherst College in Massachusetts University, believes that companies with excessive pricing power lead modern economies to serve corporate executives and shareholders more than the general public. A study she and her colleagues conducted last year analyzed records from company earnings calls and concluded that many companies use inflationary environments to 'protect and even increase their profits'.
British media sarcastically noted that although many economists point out that recent inflation is more due to wage increases than corporate price gouging, Weber's views, as well as the concept of an 'K-type economy'—where the rich continue to profit while ordinary people suffer—are still highly discussed.
In the face of these political and ideological changes, the ‘Generation Z socialism’ has proposed solutions different from those of its predecessors. In the past, leftists generally advocated raising taxes for all citizens. For example, Sanders suggested imposing an additional tax of 4% on wealthy individuals with an annual income exceeding $29,000, which covers most American families. Today, the new socialists’ tax increase proposals target only the super-rich.
Polanski advocates imposing a wealth tax of 1% on assets exceeding £10 million (approximately RMB 90.648 million), and 2% on assets exceeding £1 billion. Mamdani is promoting the imposition of an annual surtax on some luxury homes. In Washington State, the state has begun implementing a “millionaire tax” of 9.9% for those with an annual income exceeding $1 million.
Meanwhile, they also hope to raise more financial resources by improving government efficiency. The think tank Verdant, affiliated with the British Green Party, even suggested establishing a “left-wing DOGE” organization, drawing inspiration from Musk’s attempts during the Trump administration to cut federal spending. On May 28th, Mamdani announced the establishment of a “Government Efficiency Committee” in New York.
The Economist described the aforementioned policy proposal as "a fantasy." It argues that rent controls do not reduce housing costs; instead, they discourage investment in the industry, leading to a decrease in supply and, consequently, higher rents. Attempting to stop the development of AI only results in the loss of investment and job opportunities. Improving efficiency may seem desirable, but in practice, it becomes increasingly difficult: Mr. Musk knows this all too well. There is also a significant risk of taxing the wealthy. The number of wealthy individuals is already limited, and they can move locations, just like some people have done to move away from California in order to avoid possible additional billionaire taxes.
However, the article acknowledges that many non-socialists are now considering policies that could be regarded as achievements of socialists. The Labour Party's centerists are considering imposing price caps on food groceries, while center-left Democrats propose tax cuts for the majority, excluding the wealthiest percentage of people. Even Republicans who advocate for “Make America Great Again” are inclined to pause construction of data centers. This means that “whether or not the ‘Generation Z socialists’ win the elections, the concept of ‘Generation Z socialism’ will not disappear.”
