Description
The Social Democratic party family is a central part of political life in the West. This book focuses on this party family as well as a unique political force in the industrialised world. It provides a critical comparative survey of when, where, how and why Social Democracy developed within established capitalist democracies.
The book explains the electoral fortunes of Social Democratic parties, the influence of the party system dynamics and co-operation between parties in government. It examines the ideological tensions within Social Democratic parties between socialists and reformists and its ramifications for pursuing a ‘better and kinder’ world. This study also discusses the recent state of affairs and its mission in the 21st century. The book features a comparative analysis of 21 cases from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the United States.
It will be of key interest to students and scholars of public policy, comparative politics, party politics and democracy studies.
Table of Contents
1. Understanding Social Democracy: A comparative analysis of the ‘Left’ in the ‘West’
2. Democratisation of the state and the emergence of Social Democracy as a party
3. Social Democratic ideology and values: the welfare state as a project and model
4. Party system dynamics and party competition: the electoral struggle for political power
5. Social Democratic government participation and the use of state powers
6. The use of public powers: Social Democratic policy formation and performance
7. Searching for a new direction: Third Ways, Europe and globalisation
8. Varieties of Social Democratisation: pathways to power and mission performance
