The authors pull together many disparate political changes to construct a clear, synthetic framework, identifying eight core components of postindustrial politics. They examine shifts in underlying cultural values and look at the political views and party allegiances of the growing middle classes.

1 Overview of the Book, Part 1-Introduction, 2 Post-Industrial Politics: A Framework for Interpreting Citizen Politics Since the 1960s, Part 2-Cultural Shifts and Politics: Is Materialism Rising, Declining, or Both? Implications for Political Activism, 3 The Trend Toward Postmaterialist Values Continues, 4 American Youth Are Becoming More Materialistic, 5 The New Political Culture in Japan, Part 3-The New Middle Class Politics: What Is Special About the Politics of Professionals and Other Middle Class Persons?, 6 The Politics of Professionals in Five Advanced Industrial Societies, 7 Partisan Alignments of the "Old" and "New" Middle Classes in Post-Industrial America, Part 4-New Issues, Ideologies, and Cleavages: What Mobilizes Citizens?, 8 New Fiscal Populism: Innovations in Political Candidates and Campaigns in Illinois, 1956-1992, 9 Contemporary Ideological Cleavages in the United States, 10 The Social Origins of Feminism and Political Activism: Findings from Fourteen Countries