Account for the growth of post material values in western Europe and asses the consequences of their development.

The first 200 words of this essay...

Account for the growth of post material values in western Europe and asses the consequences of their development

Post-material values have been a prominent characteristic of the West European political climate for a period stretching beyond the previous decade. The cultural ascendancy of post-materialism has been evident more so in Western Europe than anywhere else and its impact more profound in some European countries, for e.g. Germany than lets say Britain.

Several arguments and theories have been developed to explain why this may be. One basic point to look at is the concept of political socialization which breeds value change. In this case the values of the current generation who have helped carry the post materialistic values to the forefront of politics. Values denote a partiality for certain persona and social goals and also some kind of a method to achieve them. Therefore any change in the value system of people will be contagion on the way our society perceives and reacts to particular events.

By political socialization we mean the process by which people learn political values; as in this case post materialistic values. Different social background are at the heart of varying political values.