After the third way. The future of social democracy in Europe

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 useful reading for anyone interested in the future of social democracy.

Contents:

The Guiding Purpose of Centre-Left Politics
1. From fatalism to fraternity: governing purpose and the good society - Patrick Diamond
2. Social democracy in a global era - Luke Martell

Policy Predicaments
3. Debt and deficits: the quest for economic competence - Andrew Gamble
4. The mechanics of markets: politics, economics and finance - John Kay
5. Social democracy at the end of the welfare state? - Peter Taylor-Gooby
6. Equality, social trust and the politics of institutional design - Bo Rothstein
7. Progress and social policy: two-and-a-half cheers for education - Lane Kenworthy
8. Social cohesion, culture politics and the impact of migration - René Cuperus and Mark Elchardus
9. Identity, community and the politics of recognition - Michael Kenny

Governance and Politics
10. The power of European integration: choice and purpose for centre-left politics - Olaf Cramme
11. Back to the future: towards a red-green politics - John McTernan
12. Globalisation challenges to centre-left internationalism - John Lloyd
13. The squeezed middle and the new inequality - Liam Byrne
14. Citizen engagement and the quest for solidarity - Henry Tam
15. Co-operation, creativity and equality: key concepts for a new social democratic era - Tobias Dürr and Robert Misik
16. Afterword: the new social democracy? - Olaf Cramme and Patrick Diamond