ABSTRACT
This chapter traces the nebulous environmental movement of the 1970s to the two institutionalized political organisations of the 1990s. Environmental ideology is difficult to pin down. “So much the better” would be the activists’ reply who repudiates the term ideology. Ideology for them is synonymous with Marxism which they consider to be rigid, dogmatic and too simplistic for our complex societies. This notwithstanding, ideological content is always present in political activity and environmentalism is no exception. The study of national and environmental political culture gave us an insight into both the obstacles confronting French environmentalism and into its true ‘nature’. The environmental identity would seem to be fairly well established. The struggle with the alternative left is over as the latter is in virtual demise and its main spokespersons have joined Les Verts. Somewhat paradoxically, the environmental social base is lacking in diversity with an overwhelming majority of intellectuals.
