The Future Of European Social Democracy

European social democracy is in crisis. In the last decade it has ceased to be about either society or democracy. The authors explore its values, how it can be revived and what kind of political economy it requires to thrive. This book includes a foreword by the two leaders of the 'Building the Good Society' project, Andrea Nahles and Jon Cruddas.

"The social democratic parties were once the strongest political forces in Europe. Today, however, they appear disorientated and rudderless, crucially lacking the ideological, intellectual and organisational vitality which underpinned their strength in the post-war political landscape. Electorally marginalised, seemingly ideologically exhausted and often out-of-step with the contemporary zeitgeist, European social democracy is currently in profound need of revision and renewal-potentially its very existence as a political force is under threat. This book marks a serious attempt to forge the intellectual backbone of a renewed social democracy fit for the twenty-first century. Bringing together leading academics, political thinkers and policy experts, it offers a new and original perspective on ideological and policy innovation and will be invaluable reading for anyone interested in the future of social democracy."--Publisher's website.

In Today S Globalized World, Two Forces Are Competing For Dominance In Countries Governed By The Rule-Of-Law: Liberation Democracy And Social Democracy. For Liberation Democracy The Essential Constituents Of Social Freedom Are To Be Found In Self-Regulated Markets And The Unrestricted Right To Private Property. Social Democracy, On The Other Hand, Underlines The Importance Not Only Of Civil And Political Rights, But Also Basic Social And Economic Rights. It Calls For Social Safeguards To Be Regarded A Fundamental Right, Promotes Social Inclusion And Accords Priority To Political Responsibility Over Market Forces. As Economic And Social Risks Multiply In A Globalized World, Social Democracy Has A Role To Play Not Only Within Individual Societies But Also In Shaping The World Order As A Whole. This Books Shows Different Ways In Which Social Democracy Can Be Designed To Meet Future Needs. It Compares Various Models Of Social Democracy And Their Respective Contributions Towards The Legitimacy And Stability Of The Democratic Order.

He also explores what this new form of political activity means for European politics, arguing that the traditional positions of left and right may be becoming increasingly significant within the EU's evolving, transnational political culture.

Social democracy is in a process of change as a number of developments challenge its organizational, ideational and electoral basis. This book elaborates on how social democracy should be understood under these changing circumstances, how social democratic parties have responded and what future trajectories await.

This book examines the impact of contemporary challenges such as tensions between leaders and members, attitudes to nuclear weapons and NATO, problems of income redistribution and social welfare, and the changing social composition of the parties.

The end of the twentieth century saw an unprecedented coincidence of electoral success for social democratic parties in western Europe leading to intensive discussion on the future of this new European left. The debates often centred on the notion of a 'Third way' and generated major expectations for policy change among social democratic politicians and voters. The authors collected here examine the recent social and employment policies of these progressive parties, looking for change in the guiding principles of policy and on actual policy decisions. They show how the maxims of demand management and egalitarianism have been replaced by social investment and equality of opportunity and demonstrate the full extent of convergence on policies such as employment maximization, the containment of social expenditure and a shift towards a social investment welfare state.

Is it possible in this post-socialist world, for equity and efficiency to be reconciled ? Or is a productive welfare state a contradication in terms ? This book addresses these questions in theory and in practice, using the Nordic countries as its case study. Social Democracy and Rational Choice will appeal to readers interested in comparative institutional and policy analysis, and in particular to those concerned with the future of the welfare state and the latest developments in the Nordic countries.