ABSTRACT
It should be clear by now that two key elements of Inglehart's theory of the Silent Revolution are untenable. First, the term "postmaterialism" wrongly gives the impression that there is more and more of a focus on values beyond materialism. I n fact, however, we are witnessing an increasing dif fusion of libertarian political values at the expense of authoritarian ones. Second, there is no evidence that this cultural change has indeed been gen erated by growing affluence. So Inglehart may be right to assume that these political values cannot be explained by class, but he is wrong to view them as being caused by one's economic background.
