Support for new social movements in five Western European countries

On the basis of the Eurobarometer survey data of 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1989, trends as well as levels of support for new social movements are analysed comparatively. The countries involved are France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Great Britain. The analysis is based on a concept of support combining a behavioral and an attitudinal dimension. With respect to the levels, there are considerable differences between countries over the whole period of time. The strongest support can be clearly found in the Netherlands and in Germany whereas it is quite low in Italy and France. In the course of the eighties the support in all five countries has been relatively stable with a slightly increasing tendency.