ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the results of a series of telephone interviews, which took place in 1997, with a number of the original 1990 questionnaire respondents. The interviews explored a number of issues related to joining and leaving the Scottish Greens. Based on the qualitative interview findings, as well as data from the 1990 questionnaire on reasons for leaving, the chapter attempts to assess why so many 1990 members left the party, while others remained as members. The interviews were conducted by telephone between April and July 1997. The fact that so many years separate the original questionnaire and the telephone interviews means that the more mobile 1990 members are inevitably under-represented in the results of the interviews. The political context in 1997 was very different from that of 1989/1990. The findings confirm the importance of considering the political context to fully appreciate what motivates, or indeed demotivates, movement participants.
