Beliefs in Government

Abstract

This book, the fifth and last in the ‘Beliefs in government’ series, provides a brief comparative study of political attitudes in Western Europe and draws together the findings of the ‘Beliefs in government’ project, setting them in the wider context of modern politics in Western Europe. It considers the main post‐war literature on democratic crisis, change, and transformation in the West, and compares this literature with the extensive collection of West European survey evidence that is discussed in greater detail in the other series volumes. It touches upon general themes of citizens’ attitudes to the modern state, to the scope of government and its services, and to the growing power of agencies of international government, especially the European Union. It tracks the nature and impact of fundamental values on political attitudes and behaviour. Its conclusions challenge widely held views about modern democratic behaviour and politics, including the literature on political participation, mass political opinion, post‐materialism and post‐modernism, the welfare state, and democratic change and stability.