ABSTRACT

European publics, which have become more individualist in the course of a decade, appear also to have become considerably more participatory in their dispositions towards politics. The role of environmental movements in the emerging opposition to communist rule in central and eastern Europe has often been remarked. The evidence and arguments marshalled by Mira Marody and Adam Seligman scarcely inspire confidence in prospects for the stabilization of democracy in central and Eastern Europe. Not only is a great deal of research now under way, but consideration of the problems of the transformation of eastern Europe has revivified sociological thinking in the West. The author is particularly concerned to make amends for sociologists' neglect of the European Community. Alain Touraine and Rainer Lepsius demonstrate very effectively that the theoretical traditions of sociology have much to offer in the analysis of European integration, just as other contributions show the value of cross-nationally comparative empirical research.