The Crisis of Social Democracy in Europe - Softcover

Michael Keating; David McCrone

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1474403034 ISBN 13: 9781474403030

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press, 2015

Synopsis

Is social democracy in a terminal condition in Europe? Social democracy is in office almost nowhere in Europe and seems to be out of ideas in the face of the economic crisis that might have given it a historic opportunity. While accepting the truth of this, this volume takes 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, the contributors 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. In this book, Keating and McCrone examine the fortunes of social democracy in western and east central Europe and the policy challenges in economic policy, labour markets, social welfare, public services, integration and decentralisation.

About this title

About the Author

Michael Keating is Professor of Politics at the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh. David McCrone is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Edinburgh.

From the Back Cover

This new study challenges the claim that European social democracy is dead Is social democracy in a terminal condition in Europe? It is 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 book take a stand against those who claim that social democracy has reached its end. 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 decentralisation. Michael Keating is Professor of Politics at the University of Aberdeen. He is author of numerous books, the most recent of which include The Government of Scotland (Edinburgh University Press, 2005, 2nd edition 2010) and The Independence of Scotland (2009). David McCrone is Professor of Sociology at the University of Edinburgh. He has written and edited many books including Understanding Scotland (2001) and The Sociology of Nationalism (1998). Cover image: EL PAIS - DOMINGO European Social Democracy (c) Luis Tinoco. Cover design: [EUP logo] www.euppublishing.com

Edition details

• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1474403034
• ISBN 13: 9781474403030
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288
• Editor: David McCrone, Michael Keating