Examines changes in political & economic goals, religious norms, & family values & how these changes influence politics & economics drawing on the 1981 & 1990 World Values Surveys & 1970s-1990s Eurobarometer surveys (total N = 43 countries). It is argued that economic development, cultural change, & political change vary together in predictable patterns; ie, as societies enter into economic modernization, political & cultural changes are likely to follow. Among these changes are a decrease in gender differences & an expansion of democracy. Further, societies in the modernization phase are likely to value materialistic motivations as they seek to break the cultural constraints on accumulation. However, these changes are not simply linear. Rather, evidence indicates that the most modern of societies are passing from a modern to a postmodern period, a shift caused by the diminishing marginal utility of economic determinism. It is marked by a declining emphasis on functional rationality & materialism & a stress on self-expression & quality of life. Rather than seeking greater accumulation of wealth, postmodern societies value economic security & a broad choice of lifestyles. Postmodern values are also associated with declining confidence in religion, respect for authority, & participation in traditional forms of politics. This situation will evolve as political systems adapt to the new circumstances. Currently, the form of that political response is unclear. The text contains an Introduction & 11 Chpts with Notes. 22 Tables, 70 Figures, 5 Appendixes, 318 References. D. Ryfe