This report summarizes the views expressed at the Fifth Wingspread Conference on the will of Western nations to survive. It is intended to help readers develop an understanding of contemporary Europe and the implications which developments there may have for the United States. Given the position of the United States as a world power, it follows that factors which affect the United States inevitably have an impact on other nations. Following an introduction there are four major sections: "Europe's Civilization: A Glorious Past without a Future?", "Western Security in the Coming Years,""Which is the West That Will Survive?" and "NATO and the News Media." While conference participants showed little disposition to play down the growing military strength of the Soviet Union, its economic and ideological shortcomings were also noted, together with the obvious capacity of NATO and, in particular, its strongest member, the United States, to contain this strength. Euro-communism was seen as a phenomenon not yet fully understood, but perhaps equally disconcerting to East and West. In the field of defense doubts were expressed about the West's will, as distinct from its capacity, to hold firm in what must be a long tug of war, with the difficulty for Western public opinion of successfully combining a true understanding of detente with the continuing support of an increasingly burdensome defense effort. Confidence was expressed that such institutions as NATO and the European community, despite their imperfections, could and should assure Western survival. (RM)