This volume investigates how shifting societal values, including the rise of postmaterialism and postmodernism, fundamentally alter the relationship between citizens and their government. The authors, Elinor Scarbrough and Jan W. van Deth, utilize extensive comparative data to evaluate the correlation between evolving personal belief systems and traditional political participation. By examining trends such as declining religiosity and the emergence of new social movements, the text constructs a framework for understanding the modern democratic landscape.

Experts frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of cultural sociology and political science. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous examination of how individual belief systems influence broader governance structures.