This thesis examines the measurable effects of changing cultural values on American presidential election year issues from 1972 to 2000. Topics discussed: the long-term shift in cultural values and their impact on political parties, party support, and political priorities. There is congruence between the content of the two major political party platforms from 1972-2000 and the cultural priorities of party supporters as defined by their presidential vote. This relationship also holds true for the 'most significant issue facing the nation' variable in the National Election Studies and presidential vote choice. These results are reproduced in a completely different data set of active political participants (follow the news closely, participate in political campaigns, vote consistently) assembled by Sydney Verba. Both political parties must contend with the tensions that arise from differing cultural priorities of their supporters. This applies both within the parties as they must assemble winning electoral coalitions and between the parties which have taken on the cultural and political priorities of their strongest supporters. As the cultural priorities of major political party supporters shift, so have their quadrennial party platforms. / Master of Arts

Attitudes toward nuclear weapons is a well-studied field within political science; however, not in the context of the postmaterial values articulated by Inglehart. This study aims to show that individual attitudes toward nuclear weapons are based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, together with emancipatory needs typical of postmaterial priorities. The quantitative study takes place in Sweden, currently a country on the threshold of becoming a nuclear host to NATO nuclear warheads. This article finds evidence for its hypothesis: there is a negative correlation between postmaterial values among individuals and their attitudes toward nuclear weapons. There are also findings suggesting a strong negative correlation between age and attitudes toward nuclear weapons. The well-studied right-left scale continues to correlate with attitudes concerning nuclear weapons; however, this connection is not as significant as the one with cultural values and priorities.