Zohran Mamdani’s recent victory in the New York City Democratic primary has caught the attention of many here in Israel, especially as we consider its broader implications. What stands out most is that a significant portion of his support comes from younger voters, a trend that deserves a closer look.
The shift among Western youth toward socialism isn’t a fleeting trend but a response to deep-seated frustrations with an economic system they see as rigged and unjust. They’re navigating a reality where wealth seems hoarded at the top, wages stagnate, and capitalism’s promises ring hollow for anyone without privilege. It’s no wonder many are drawn to ideas that seem to emphasize fairness, collective action, and a stronger social safety net.
At its heart, this movement is presented as being exclusively about fairness. Young people experience inequality firsthand, whether it’s the struggle to cover rent or watching billionaires amass more wealth while workers are squeezed tighter. Socialism’s call for wealth redistribution and basic welfare no longer feels radical but rather a common-sense reaction to an unfair system. When capitalism appears to favor a select few, imagining a system that puts people first feels not only reasonable but urgent.
Socialism as an ethical alternative to capitalism
There’s also a palpable fatigue with capitalism itself. Stagnant wages, token minimum wage hikes, precarious employment, and soaring living costs make it difficult to believe this system works for everyone. For many young voters, socialism represents a more ethical alternative – one that values human needs over profit margins. It’s a moral response to the cracks widening in the economic foundation.
Beyond economics, younger generations see themselves as more attuned to social justice issues than those before them. Climate change, racial inequality, and healthcare access dominate their concerns. Socialism’s focus on community and shared responsibility fits naturally with their desire to address these challenges collectively rather than individually. This isn’t so much about ideology as it is about practical cooperation to fix real problems.
Yet this enthusiasm often comes with a shallow understanding of socialism’s history. Many young people have not fully grasped the complexities or failures of past socialist experiments. Education today often downplays these lessons, leaving a gap filled by idealism and an overly optimistic view of socialism’s potential.
There’s also a psychological dimension to this trend. Socialism offers a sense of belonging and purpose to those who feel marginalized by the current system. It rejects relentless individualism in favor of a society where cooperation and equity matter more than endless competition.
This vision resonates strongly with a generation raised in educational environments that lean toward these values. Ironically, many supporters are unaware that Mamdani himself comes from wealth and lives in a Manhattan townhouse worth millions of dollars. Still, his youth and rhetoric on fairness strike an emotional chord that’s hard for them to question.
The drawbacks of these policies
Yet the risks of Mamdani’s win go far beyond New York City. It would be naive to think his philosophy is confined to one city. His victory signals a broader, coordinated push to overhaul economic and political structures everywhere. Mamdani’s rise normalizes policies rooted in state control, class resentment, and redistribution at the expense of innovation and growth. Mamdani’s win has potentially opened a dangerous door.
If these ideas take deeper root, they threaten to destabilize New York’s fragile economic recovery and drive away many residents, including, critically, the Jewish community. Mamdani’s remarks about Israel and Jews only heighten these concerns. When leaders gain ground not through pragmatic solutions but through emotional appeals to grievance and utopian promises, we trade resilience and complexity for ideology and instability.
This dynamic will only intensify pressures on Israel within American politics if his influence grows.
Addressing this momentum requires confronting both symptoms and causes. Legitimate grievances around affordability, access, and fairness demand attention. But it’s equally vital to convey that radicalism has repeatedly failed in practice. Civic education must be revitalized to include honest conversations about economic trade-offs, the history of socialist regimes, and the merits of democratic capitalism.
Political leaders must rise to the challenge by delivering tangible improvements through innovation and reform, not ideological overreach. Above all, New Yorkers who envision a dynamic, inclusive, and forward-thinking city must re-engage and vote.
In today’s climate, silence signifies surrender. If New Yorkers fail to push back now, their city risks becoming the first major American metropolis to vote itself into decline. History warns us that once freedom is traded for comfort, it is seldom regained at the same level. The stakes couldn’t be higher, not just for New York, but for all of us who value liberty and prosperity.
Dr. Michael J Salamon is a psychologist specializing in trauma and abuse and director of ADC Psychological Services in Netanya and Hewlett, NY. Louis Libin is an expert in military strategies, wireless innovation, emergency communications, and cybersecurity.