European values at the turn of the century

Abstract

This chapter presents a selection of the data from the European Values Study. From the charts and maps presented, the chapter draws some conclusions on European values at the turn of the 21st century. The values map immediately reveals that Europe is not a homogeneous continent, but also that the countries are not randomly scattered. The countries that are the furthest apart on Europe's values map are Turkey and Sweden. On the basis of the data from the world values survey a world values map can be drawn which allows an analysis of Europe's position in the world. Cultural changes most often take place by generational shifts rather than through people changing their views in fundamental ways. In each new wave of the European Values Study, the oldest and -most likely- conservative generation is replaced by a younger generation with usually more modern, liberal values. Keywords:European values study; Sweden; Turkey; world values map