This study is an initial comparative exploration of the green party phenomenon. The principal objective of this article is to provide a general overview of the historical development, the electoral results, and the nature of the electorate of green parties in western Europe. A preliminary classification on green parties is offered, and it is demonstrated that the value orientation and ideological composition, as well as socio- demographic composition, of green parties' electorates differ across countries and party types. © 1985, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.