The crisis of social democracy in Europe

Frontmatter -- Contents -- List of tables and figures -- About the contributors -- Preface -- 1. The crisis of social democracy -- 2. The Long Depression, the Great Crash and socialism in Western Europe -- 3. Social democracy in crisis: outlining the trends in Western Europe -- 4. The positions and fortunes of social democratic parties in East Central Europe -- 5. Rethinking public expenditure from a social democratic perspective -- 6. Social democracy in crisis? What crisis? -- 7. Can the Swedish social model survive the decline of the social democrats? -- 8. Multiculturalism, right-wing populism and the crisis of social democracy -- 9. Labour markets, welfare states and the dilemmas of European social democracy -- 10. Class politics and the social investment welfare state -- 11. Labour, skills and education in modern socio-economic development: can there be a social democratic economic and industrial policy in a globalised economy? -- 12. From single market to social market economy: is there room for solidarity? -- 13. Social democracy and security -- 14. Multilevel social democracy: centralisation and decentralisation -- 15. Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index

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 rele

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