Change Agents and Generational Relationships: A Reevaluation of Mannheim's Problem of Generations

Existing literature on the 1960s student movements identifies movement participants as examples of what Mannheim referred to as, “generation units.” It is argued here that this use of Mannheim's term is misleading and inadequately tests his understanding of intergenerational relationships and social change. Longitudinal and cross-generational data are presented which support a critique of the generation unit concept as applied to social movement participants. An analysis of these data calls for an examination of the way in which political socialization may act as a tie between generations while facilitating collective efforts at social change.