This volume is a broad and sweeping comparative study of political attitudes in Western Europe which draws together the main findings of the Beliefs in Government research project and sets them in the broad context of modern politics in Western Europe. It considers the main post-war writing on democratic crisis, change, and transformation in the West, and compares this literature with that large and extensive collection of West European survey evidence which is discussed in detail in the other series volumes. It touches upon the general themes of citizen attitudes towards the modern state, towards the scope of government and its services, towards the growing power of agencies of international government, especially the European Union, and tracks the nature and impact of fundamental values on political attitudes and behaviour.

The conclusions challenge widely held views and theories about modern democratic government and politics, including the literature on political participation, mass political opinion, postmaterialism and postmodernism, the welfare state, and democratic change and stability.