Zooming in on Zoomers : A Comprehensive Analysis of Quebec's Shifting Secession Dynamics

ABSTRACT This study examines the evolution of attitudes towards Quebec secession across generations, with particular focus on Generation Z in comparison to older cohorts. Utilizing an extensive dataset spanning from 1968 to 2022 ( n = 31,699), we analyse whether factors influencing separatist sentiment remain consistent across generations or have shifted over time. Our findings reveal that while significant constitutional events correspond with increased support for secession across multiple cohorts, Generation Z exhibits distinct patterns of engagement with the sovereignty question. Among Francophones, support for secession decreases across successive generations, while Anglophone youth demonstrate weaker commitment to federalism than their predecessors, suggesting an overall depolarization between linguistic groups. Notably, Generation Z maintains high levels of Québécois‐first identification comparable to Baby Boomers, despite demonstrating more moderate attitudes towards secession. These findings indicate that Generation Z's relative neutrality should not be interpreted as indifference to Quebec identity, but rather as a reflection of political socialization in an era absent of major constitutional crises. The study contributes to our understanding of how age, language and historical context interact to shape political attitudes in multinational democratic states, suggesting that separatist sentiment may remain latent among younger Quebecers, potentially responsive to future catalysing events that resonate with their values and concerns.