Long- and short-term determinants of party preferences: Inter-generational differences in Western and East Central Europe

► This paper studies inter-generational differences in the degree to which long-term and short-term factors affect party preferences in established and consolidating democracies. ► It shows de-alignment of younger generations along traditional cleavages. ► It points to an increased importance of attitudes towards immigration for younger generations in Western Europe, which signals re-alignment. ► The paper employs the European Election Study 2009, which was fielded immediately after the EP elections of June 2009.