ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores incentives behind membership of the Scottish Greens. In the case of a small green party which can offer very little in the way of selective returns for membership we would expect collective incentives to be most important. The book attempts to compare the characteristics of Scottish Greens with other political participants– members of political parties, environmental and peace groups. The book considers important of the time period and political setting if people are to fully understand the decision to join a party. Factors considered include levels of environmental consciousness, the impact of institutional structures, and the dynamics of party competition. This involves examining the three areas of environmental awareness of the population, political system effects, and the nature of party competition in Scotland.
