Nationalist movements are typically total movements characterized by affectively charged values and demands of full commitment. Due to the spread of information they have become patterned reactions to stereotyped situations. They derive their dynamic psychological strength largely from a collective concern about the status of the group. Among the Ambonese mass demonstrations, the merging of religious and nationalistic ideologies and also rivalry and mutual accusations tended to keep attention focussed on the values of the movement. Impracticability of the aim caused its rapid decline. The primary problem: compensation for loss of status has to be solved now by realistic adjustments on a more individual basis, the success of which is to a large extent dependent on the general economic situation in the Netherlands.