Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book shows how environmental politics has evolved from a nebulous mass into two political structures (Les Verts and Generation Ecologie) struggling for a place in political society. It presents a picture of environmental politics in France; from what was seen as a “vast social movement” to what has become an electoral force. The book looks at the political culture of French environmentalism by considering a series of related questions. It discusses the idea of a social base for environmentalism and also presents a typology of activists and sympathizers with a view to answering the following questions: Is the gender divide an equal one? Is there a turnover of activists? How important is religion? The book is concerned with environmental ideology.