The Future of European Social Democracy : Building the Good Society

European social democracy is in crisis. In the last decade it has ceased to be about either society or democracy. The authors explore its values, how it can be revived and what kind of political economy it requires to thrive. This book includes a foreword by the two leaders of the 'Building the Good Society' project, Andrea Nahles and Jon Cruddas. Across Europe social democracy is in crisis. The countries which formits collective home, Britain, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy and France, are all currently governed by centre right parties. It seems that change to European social democracy is essential. The contributors to this volume look at what kind of change this might be. In the last decade European social democracy has ceased to be about either society or democracy. In government it has embraced liberal economic principles that undermined solidarity and association. Along the way the idea of the common good has been lost and there is no vision of a 'Good Society'. The authors explore the values of European social democracy, how it can be revived and what kind of political economy it requires in order to thrive. An international group of distinguished academics addresses these issues and looks at how European social democracy can be used the build the Good Society. The Future of European Social Democracy also includes a foreword and appendix by the two leaders of the 'Building the Good Society' project on which the book is based, Andrea Nahles and Jon Cruddas Across Europe Social Democracy Is In Crisis. The Countries Which Formits Collective Home, Britain, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands, Italy And France, Are All Currently Governed By Centre Right Parties. It Seems That Change To European Social Democracy Is Essential. The Contributors To This Volume Look At What Kind Of Change This Might Be. In The Last Decade European Social Democracy Has Ceased To Be About Either Society Or Democracy. In Government It Has Embraced Liberal Economic Principles That Undermined Solidarity And Association. Along The Way The Idea Of The Common Good Has Been Lost And There Is No Vision Of A 'good Society'. The Authors Explore The Values Of European Social Democracy, How It Can Be Revived And What Kind Of Political Economy It Requires In Order To Thrive. An International Group Of Distinguished Academics Addresses These Issues And Looks At How European Social Democracy Can Be Used The Build The Good Society. The Future Of European Social Democracy Also Includes A Foreword And Appendix By The Two Leaders Of The 'building The Good Society' Project On Which The Book Is Based, Andrea Nahles And Jon Cruddas. -- Publisher Description. Preface : Social Democracy In Our Time / Joncruddas And Andrea Nahles -- Part I Introduction -- Building The Good Society / Henning Meyer And Jonathan Rutherford -- Part Ii Social Democracy In Europe -- Social Democratic Trajectories In Modern Europe: One Or Many Families? / Stefan Berger -- The Europeanization Of Social Democracy : Politics Without Policy And Policy Without Politics / Isabelle Hertner And James Sloam -- The Preconditions Of Social Europe And The Tasks Of Social Democracy / Stefan Collignon -- Part Iii A New Political Economy -- A Decent Capitalism For A Good Society / Sebastian Dullien, Hansjörg Herr And Christian Kellermann -- As Much Market As Possible; As Much State As Necessary / Colin Crouch -- Part Iv Re-framing Social Democracy -- The New Language Of Social Democracy / Elisabeth Wehling And George Lakoff -- Social Democracy And Trade Unions / Dimitris Tsarouhas -- The Greatest Happiness Principle : An Imperative For Social Democracy? / Christian Kroll -- Part V Political Futures -- Dispossession / Jonathan Rutherford -- The Challenge Of European Social Democracy : Communitarianism And Cosmopolitanism United / Henning Meyer -- Not Without A Future / Jenny Andersson -- The National In The Network Society: Uk Uncut, The English Defence League And The Challenge For Social Democracy / Ben Little & Deborah Grayson -- Part Vi Conclusion -- The Way Ahead / Henning Meyer And Jonathan Rutherford -- Appendix : Building The Good Society : The Project Of The Democratic Left / Jonathan Cruddas And Andrea Nahles. Edited By Henning Meyer, Jonathan Rutherford. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 209-223) And Index. "Social democracy is on the retreat across Europe. A wave of new liberal and conservative governments have swept social democrats out of office, posing a series of fundamental questions about the nature and vitality of social democracy today. This book provides a systematic response to this and sets down pathways to reshape the social democratic project for the challenges of an era marked by the impact of the global financial crisis, renewed questions of political legitimacy and the contradictions of a global world - where the pressure to openness of economy and politics sits side by side with the pressure to reassert national politics and national identities."--David Held, Master of University College and Chair of Politics and International Relations, University of Durham, UK 'The much needed compendium of everything you may wish to know to understand (and, hopefully, to arrest) the forces behind the current falling apart of the social-democratic project. The editors have managed to secure cooperation of the most acute and insightful analysts of a paramount and most seminal, while portentous, phenomenon of our times.' - Zygmunt Bauman, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Leeds, UK Front Matter....Pages i-xii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Building the Good Society....Pages 3-9 Front Matter....Pages 11-11 Social Democratic Trajectories in Modern Europe: One or Many Families?....Pages 13-26 The Europeanization of Social Democracy: Politics without Policy and Policy without Politics....Pages 27-38 The Preconditions of Social Europe and the Tasks of Social Democracy....Pages 39-53 Front Matter....Pages 55-55 A Decent Capitalism for a Good Society....Pages 57-73 As Much Market as Possible; as Much State as Necessary....Pages 74-89 Front Matter....Pages 91-91 The New Language of Social Democracy....Pages 93-106 Social Democracy and Trade Unions....Pages 107-119 The Greatest Happiness Principle: An Imperative for Social Democracy?....Pages 120-134 Front Matter....Pages 135-135 Dispossession....Pages 137-151 The Challenge of European Social Democracy: Communitarianism and Cosmopolitanism United....Pages 152-165 Not without a Future....Pages 166-176 The National in the Network Society: UK Uncut, the English Defence League and the Challenge for Social Democracy....Pages 177-191 Front Matter....Pages 193-193 The Way Ahead....Pages 195-197 Back Matter....Pages 198-235