This document examines the definition of democracy and the political attitudes and values of the West German public and implications of these attitudes for future German politics and German-U.S. relations. The stability of postwar democracy in West Germany, it is agreed, is related to changes in the characteristics of the political culture over the last 40 years, and reflects a consensus on democratic values and institutions never before present in German political history. Five reasons for these changes are identified: social structure, policy success, political socialization, absence of a credible alternative, and the postwar international economy. The paper discusses two decades of survey data that examine the political attitudes, social beliefs, and democratic values. One of the surveys asked respondents to describe their concept of an ideal democracy. The results showed between 70 and 90 percent of the West German adult population were supportive of basic democratic institutions, values, and norms. Tables of survey finding are included. (NL)