The development of green movements in Europe and European Union integration

Green movements emerged in the prosperous countries of the West during the sixties and spread across the whole world. These movements drew attention to ecological devastation, criticized the modern industrial society and sought to promote ecological and social harmony. Green parties were born as a result of the transformation process of these movements and took place on the political scene. The so-called "Greens" deeply influenced the society and the established political parties as a new and different actor from the eighties onwards. In the first section of this study, to understand the green movement, definitions of various terms related to ecology were provided and the historical background of ecological devastation was revealed. It was arranged calendrically, including the works of scientists, philosophers and artists on the topic of "environment". This section highlighted that, contrary to popular belief, environmental degradation is not a new phenomenon and should not be considered as an issue of modern society; the origins lie far back in time. Second section of this study analyzed how a term (ecology) used in science was converted into a political ideology. The attention was focused on the ideology which is formed by the conjunction of new social movements and ecology. By using the guidance of social movement theories and postmaterialism thesis as a key factor, the emergence of green movements and green parties in each European Union (EU) member state were examined. It showed that the postmaterialism thesis and social movement theories developed in the West were not quite satisfactory to explain the green movements and parties in Eastern Europe. The factors that played a role in the emergence of Greens and outcomes thereof, differed for former Eastern Bloc countries. Particular interest was given to the part they had in the fall of regimes (1989) across Eastern Europe and the positions they held in the subsequent process. Born out of social movements and subsequently developing into political parties, Greens gained parliamentary representation and participated in governments throughout Europe. In the third section of this study they were reviewed as political actors in the European Parliament; and the transnational European Green Party they formed was analyzed through its historical development, structure, political preferences and relations with and within EU. The change in position towards EU integration was underlined.