In modern societies political participation is not restricted to the defense of interests and values associated with eonomic and social conditions. On the opposite, political mobilisation in favour of other causes has culminated in a process that has entailed the creation of new rigths, such as those in the environmental, cultural, minority and consumer areas, in short those concerning quality of life in general.  Related to the growth of these new rights has been the accentuated protagonism of new social groups.  At the same time there has also been a move towards the broadening and revitalisation of the mechanisms whereby people participate politically in  contemporary societies. Concerns that are designed to perserve our culture heritage forms part of the overall framework of this new set of rights.