Social Democratic Parties in the European Union : History, Organization, Policies

This book offers a concise and accessible coverage of the historical background, the organization and policies of the fifteen social democratic parties in the European Union with a focus on the 1945-1990s period. It combines an updated study of the evolution of each party's ideology, sociology and policies, with attention also to the impact of European integration on the fortunes of social democratic forces. The book can be used as a reference text by academics, students and political practitioners and contains contact details and important reference information for each party. Front Matter....Pages i-xix Introduction: European Social Democracy in Situ....Pages 1-15 The Social Democratic Party of Austria....Pages 16-29 The Belgian Socialist Party....Pages 30-42 The Danish Social Democratic Party....Pages 43-55 The Finnish Social Democratic Party....Pages 56-63 The French Socialist Party....Pages 64-78 The German Social Democratic Party....Pages 79-94 The British Labour Party....Pages 95-109 The Panhellenic Socialist Movement....Pages 110-122 The Irish Labour Party....Pages 123-132 The Italian Democrats of the Left....Pages 133-147 The Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party....Pages 148-154 The Dutch Labour Party....Pages 155-165 The Portuguese Socialist Party....Pages 166-175 The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party....Pages 176-188 The Swedish Social Democratic Party....Pages 189-203 The Party of European Socialists....Pages 204-217 Postscript: Social Democratic Parties and the European Union....Pages 218-222 Back Matter....Pages 223-234 This book offers concise and accessible coverage of the historical background, the organization and policies of the fifteen social democratic parties in the European Union, with a focus on the postwar period to current events. It combines an updated study of the evolution of each party's ideology, sociology and policies, with attention also to the impact of European integration on the fortunes of social democratic forces. This systematic study responds to the fast-growing changes which social democracy has experienced over the past twenty years and examines the different responses to the parties' changing political and economic environments. The book will be useful to students and academics studying comparative politics and European politics, and to activists and professionals in the parties concerned. The book contains contact details and important reference information for each party