Synopses & Reviews
Social democracy is in office almost nowhere in Europe and appears bereft of ideas in the face of the economic crisis that might have given it a historic opportunity. So is social democracy dead?
The contributors to this book take a stand against those who claim that social democracy has reached its end. By arguing that social democracy is not a single set of ideas or practices but a way of reconciling market capitalism with social inclusion and equality, they show that it has actually been remarkably successful during the 20th century. Its key principles are still relevant but must be adapted to new conditions. This book examines the fortunes of social democracy in western and east-central Europe and the policy challenges in economic policy, labour markets, social welfare, public services, European integration and decentralisation.
Synopsis
This volume examines the fortunes of social democracy in Western and East-Central Europe and the policy challenges it faces. By arguing that social democracy is a way of reconciling market capitalism with social inclusion and equality, they show that it has actually been remarkably successful during the 20th century.
Synopsis
Is social democracy in a terminal condition in Europe? It's in office almost nowhere and appears bereft of ideas in the face of the economic crisis that might have given it a historic opportunity. While accepting the truth of this, the contributors to this volume take a stand again those who claim that social democracy is dead. By arguing that social democracy is not a single set of ideas or practices but a way of reconciling market capitalism with social inclusion and equality, they show that it has actually been remarkably successful during the 20th century. Its key principles are still relevant but must be adapted to new conditions. This book examines the fortunes of social democracy in western and east-central Europe and the policy challenges in economic policy, labour markets, social welfare, public services, European integration and decentralization.
About the Author
Michael Keating is Professor of Politics at the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and an Academician of the Social Sciences. He has published extensively on European politics, nationalism and regionalism.
David McCrone is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Edinburgh. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and a Fellow of the British Academy. He co-founded the university's Institute of Governance in 1999, and has written extensively on the sociology and politics of Scotland, and the comparative study of nationalism.
Table of Contents
List of tables and figures About the contributors
Preface
1. The crisis of social democracy
Michael Keating and David McCrone
2. The Long Depression, the Great Crash and socialism in Western Europe
Donald Sassoon
3. Social democracy in crisis: outlining the trends in Western Europe
David McCrone and Michael Keating
4. The positions and fortunes of social democratic parties in East Central Europe
Milada Anna Vachudova
5. Rethinking public expenditure from a social democratic perspective
David Heal
6. Social democracy in crisis? What crisis?
Bo Rothstein and Sven Steinmo
7. Can the Swedish social model survive the decline of the social democrats?
Henry Milner
8. Multiculturalism, right-wing populism and the crisis of social democracy
Susi Meret and Birte Siim
9. Labour markets, welfare states and the dilemmas of European social democracy
Martin Rhodes
10. Class politics and the social investment welfare state
Colin Crouch
11. Labour, skills and education in modern socio-economic development: can there be a social democratic economic and industrial policy in a globalised economy?
Ulrich Hilpert and Desmond Hickie
12. From single market to social market economy: is there room for solidarity?
Yves Mény
13. Social democracy and security
Neil Walker
14. Multilevel social democracy: centralisation and decentralisation
Michael Keating
15. Conclusion
Michael Keating and David McCrone
Bibliography
Index