Fears that representative democracy in western Europe is in crisis are examined on the basis of trends in mass attitudes over the past two or three decades. The evidence suggests not crisis but a changing relationship between citizens and the state. This change poses a democratic transformation in the countries of Western Europe.

`On balance, the Beliefs in Government series provides one of the most ambitious examples of secondary data analysis in social science research, and it highlights both the strengths and limitations of this approach. The strengths are impressive.' American Political Science Review `The substantive findings that emerge from the Beliefs in Government project are encouraging for supporters of democracy.' American Political Sceince Review `a wealth of fascinating findings that often qualify broad theories of social change' American Political Science Review `The first four volumes contain many chapters that students of European politics and comparative public opinion will find valuable. The fifth volume, coauthored by Kaase and Newton, provides a useful overall perspective on the research.' American Political Science Review `an extremely valuable contribution to the research literature on comparative politics' American Political Science Review `This monumental five-volume series, written by leading European political scientists, presents a comprehensive analysis of the role of mass politics in public life. The result of a unique program in cross-national collaborative research, it constitutes an important event in the development of transnational social science.' American Political Science Review `The approach emphasizes careful empirical analysis tempered by cautious inference ... The quality of the empirical analysis is consistently high, and authors are frank about the limitations imposed by their data ... important collection of empirical studies addressing the debate about the "crisis of representation" in Europe.' Journal of Public Policy `The approach emphasizes careful empirical analysis tempered by cautious inference ... The quality of the empirical analysis is consistently high, and authors are frank about the limitations imposed by their data.' Public Policy, Vol 16 - Part 1 - 1996 `These volumes contain the work of many of the most important scholars in the field of public opinion working in Europe today ... These five volumes represent a major contribution to comparative politics, especially the study of mass politics. The chapters provide a wealth of information about public opinion in contemporary Europe and the relationship between state and society ... The volumes clearly will be read by all students of European politics, but they should be the beginning of inquiry rather than the end.' Times Educational Supplement `The lucid style of discourse is praiseworthy. This is a book which will have to be cited from now on in any debate on the issues of 'crisis of democracy', 'crisis of parties' or 'crisis of participation'. It is extremely useful because of its general argument, and for the excellent essays on particular themes ... it provides an outstanding 'case book' of comparative empirical analysis, which will be of benefit to teachers and students of comparative methodology.' Geoffrey K. Roberts, University of Manchester, Political Studes (1997), XLV. `a monstrous collaborative project. ... there is ... a lot that is very important here. I was most impressed with the first volume. ... The Beliefs in Government series is a monumental achievement. It tells us at least everything we want to know about the structure of European public opinion.' The Good Society, vol.7, no.1, Winter 1997 `The best available source of insight into how West European democracy operates in the view of the citizens concerned. How does democracy work in Western Europe? ... offers, in my view, the best source available when searching for answers to this question, which after all is so relevant for practical politics in Europe and also political science ... is the closest ever examination of European democracy ... a gigantic survey of the attitudes of European citizens towards thier political institutions.' Jan-Erik Lane, Journal of European Public Policy March 1997