Ancestral Kinship and the Origins of Ideology

Abstract Families are not only the first institution ever created, they also, for most people, encountered. The preindustrial family structure, which was a function of local ecology and cooperation needs, instilled members with different values, such as trust in strangers respect elders. These values passed through generations and, we show three studies, impact today's political attitudes policies. First, using surveys second-generation immigrants representing roughly 180 ethnicities living 32 European countries, that tighter kinship structure person's ancestors predicts right-wing cultural attitudes. Among those who less engaged politics, ancestral also left-wing economic In second study, control country-level differences by comparing ethnic groups within countries find strength but Finally, third examine policy implications kinship. We stronger increases anti-LGBT policies welfare spending. whether value systems link modern total, this work indicates our beliefs rooted familial institutions created forebears.