1
Oddbjørn Knutsen
Abstract
In this article left-right materialist value orientations are conceptualised and analysed empirically in a comparative west European setting. Leftist versus Rightist Materialist political value orientations incorporate value conflicts related to control and power in the sphere of production, and to degree of redistribution in the sphere of distribution. These opposing value orientations are economic in nature, and refer in particular to conflicts about the government's role in creating greater economic equality in society.
The research questions in the empirical analyses are: 1) The question of whether there exists a left-right materialist dimension empirically at the mass level, 2) the distribution of these value orientations over time and in a comparative setting, 3) the social structural antecedents of leftright materialist value orientations over time and in a comparative perspective.
The findings provide strong evidence of an empirical left-right materialist dimension at the mass-public level. In all surveys examined such a dimension exists; moreover there is evidence from many countries that the items which tap left-right materialist value orientations are more strongly constrained than other value orientations.
There is some support for the notion of a shift to the right around 1980, but during the 1980s there is evidence that the mass public change their value priorities in a leftist direction. These changes are, however, minor compared to the huge differences found between the most advanced West European countries and the less advanced one. The less advanced countries have more leftist value orientation than the advanced industrial democracies.
The findings from the analysis of the relationship between socio-structural variables and leftright materialist value orientations indicate that these value orientations first and foremost are anchored in hierarchical variables like social class, education and income. These factors appear less important over time and in the post-war generations in particular. On the other hand, there is evidence of gender as a predictor variable of moderate importance for left-right materialist value orientations in some of the advanced industrial democracies.
We conclude that left-right materialist value orientations are central features of political beliefs in west European societies. They mark out oppositions in advanced industrial societies no less than in the less advanced societies. This indicates a stability and continuity in political life in Western Europe which is often overlooked in studies of values and values change.