The Green Challenge The Development of Green Parties in Europe

The Green Challenge is an up-to-date comparative analysis of the rise, development and varying electoral successes of Green parties in western, southern and central Europe. It provides a common comparative perspective and contextual setting through which the very different fortunes of individual Green parties operating in different national circumstances can be analysed. By using a comparative thematic perspective rather than a pre-ordained theory, The Green Challenge not only points out the deficiencies of existing theoretical studies but illuminates the primary factors which have helped to make the rise of political ecology such an important development in contemporary Europe. Its conceptual unity and coherent approach make it essential reading not only for students of Green politics but for Green activists and anyone interested in the rise of political ecology.

The Green Challenge is an up-to-date and comprehensive account of the development of Green parties in Western Europe, and includes an account of the development since 1989 of an East European Green movement.Blending theory and empirical analysis, the book contains chapters on each of the main western European cases and on a number of other less-studied ones. These are designed to demonstrate the shifting balance of party-political competition the factor the authors believe most strongly influences the fortunes of the Greens.The editors also integrate a valuable analysis of the environmentally-degraded Czech Republic, where the Green parties' lack of electoral success has puzzled many observers.

Introduction 1.The Green Challenge, Dick Richardson 2.Germany, E. Gene Frnakland 3. France, Alastair Cole and Brian Doherty 4.Britain, Chris Rootes 5.Belgium, Benoit Rihoux 6.The Netherlands, Gerrit Voerman 7.Sweden, Martin Bennulf 8.Switzerland, Clive H. Church 9.Italy, Martin Rhodes 10.Greece, Nicolas Demertzis 11.Czechoslovakia, Petr Jehlicka and Tomas Kostalecky 12.Environmentalism and Political Competition in the origins and Development of European Green Parties, Chris Rootes