Zu diesem Heft / About this edition

English Summaries

Autoren / Autorinnen / Authors

KOMMENTAR/COMMENT:

POUL NYRUP RASMUSSEN
10 Theses on the Future of Social Democracy in Europe

Zehn Thesen zur Zukunft der Sozialdemokratie in Europa

In order to maintain ideas of solidarity and social justice afloat in an ocean of media cynicism you must first build a secure platform. Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, president of the Party of European Socialists (PES), therefore, concentrates in the first four theses on how such a platform can best be built, which includes, in future, putting up a PES candidate for the office of President of the Commission. The remaining six theses explain how European Social Democrats can showcase the social democratic policies that point the way to a positive future, including an active European labor market policy, green growth, gender equality, strengthening the welfare state, and fundamental reform of the financial sector.

 

ERHARD EPPLER
Dawning of a New Era.
On the Need to Construct Social Democracy in Europe

Epochenwende
Über die Notwendigkeit des Aufbaus einer sozialen Demokratie in Europa

The era of free-market fundamentalism is coming to an end. In order to restore the primacy of politics the discussion on growth has to be conducted differently: we need a discussion of the quality, not the quantity of growth. As the instruments of the nation-state are becoming more and more inoperative, social democrats have to make the European Union into a global actor, capable of pushing through global regulation. Only a Europe with the right tools and competences will be capable of building a Social Europe.

ARTIKEL/ARTICLES

JAN NIKLAS ENGELS/GERO MAASS
The New Promise of Happiness
Current State of the Discussion on the Future of European Social Democracy

Das neue Glücksversprechen
Zwischenbilanz der Diskussion über die Zukunft dereuropäischen Sozialdemokratie

This article aims to present a first interim report on the debate on the future of European social democracy by summarizing the explanations of the disastrous election results and identifying the lessons learnt. A party’s electoral success depends on the harmonious composition of narrative, leadership, scope of action, performance record, partnerships, and strategies on Europe and globalization. The new social democratic narrative should give convincing answers to the socio-economic, cultural, and political uncertainty that many voters perceive as a threat. Politics must be restored as a credible and tangible instrument for the positive transformation of social life.

 

CARMEN DE PAZ NIEVES/GUILLERMO MORENO RODRIGUEZ
Progressive Politics in the Age of Polarization and Economic Crisis
Current Situation and Prospects of the Spanish PSOE

Progressive Politik in einer Zeit der Polarisierung und Wirtschaftskrise
Aktuelle Situation und Perspektiven der Spanischen Sozialistischen Arbeiterpartei

Since the social democratic party PSOE came to power in 2004, its focus has been on a social and civil rights agenda. Coupled with the confrontational strategy of the main opposition party, this agenda has contributed to an increase in the polarization of the political debate in Spain. Due to the negative consequences of the financial and economic crisis, the PSOE is currently experiencing a particularly difficult time.

 

PATRICK DIAMOND
The British Labour Party: New Labour Out of Power

Die britische Labour Party
New Labour ist nicht mehr an der Macht

The landscape of British politics has been profoundly transformed by the 2010 election as no single party will be able to govern alone for the foreseeable future. Challenged by the Conservative-Liberal Democratic alliance as the progressive force in Britain, Labour will need to develop an approach towards achieving its core commitment to protect the living standards and aspirations of middle and lower income workers, given the realities of globalization and the knowledge-driven economy.

 

FRANS BECKER/RENÉ CUPERUS
Innovating Social Democracy – Houdini-style
A Perspective from the Dutch Labor Party (PvdA)

Social democracy has to free itself – Houdini-like – from its current limiting conditions. In order to restore a coalition of the different constituencies of social democracy, a program is needed that connects the materialist perspective of fair pay, decent work, opportunities to move forward, and social and physical security with a post-materialistic or cultural perspective involving a sustainable environment, an open outlook on the world around us and, up to a point, an acceptance of cultural diversity.

LAURENT BOUVET
Who Loves the PS?
The Electoral Paradox of the French Socialist Party

For the past 10 years the French Socialist Party (PS) has done well at the local and regional level, but has been regularly defeated at the national level. The recent difficulties of Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidency have gifted the PS with leadership of the opposition and a real opportunity to break this electoral paradox. However, in order to ensure, once victory has been attained, the durability of its power and the long-term embedding of Socialist Party politics a profound reform of the party and its policies is needed.

MATT BROWNE/JOHN HALPIN/RUY TEIXEIRA
The American Democratic Party at a Crossroads

Die US-amerikanischen Demokraten am Scheideweg

The 2006 and 2008 victories provided the American Democratic Party with full control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as the US Presidency. Two years on, these majorities, and thus President Obama’s reform agenda, are now under threat by virulent opposition from the Republican Party, the conservative media, and a new grassroots and internet movement, the Tea Party. To face down these challenges, the Democratic Party must continue to present a coherent narrative that resonates with the public at large and the progressive movement, as well as to innovate in how it organizes and mobilizes the progressive community that brought it to power.

WOLFGANG BIERMANN/KRISTINE KALLSET
»Everyone on Board!«
The Nordic Model and the Red-Red-Green Coalition –
A Transferable Model of Success?

»Alle sollen mitkommen!«
Das Nordische Modell und die rot-rot-grüne Koalition Erfolgsmodell
auch für andere?

Anybody looking for a model of success for European social democracy should have a closer look at the experience of the Norwegian Labor Party (AP). They managed to change course after its worst defeat for 77 years in 2001. By means of policy renovation, presenting themselves as the sole force capable of bringing together society as a whole, changing internal communications, and a clear statement of their willingness to form a Red-Red-Green coalition, they were able to win back public trust and thus the elections in 2005 and 2009.

EUGENE LANG
Whither the Liberals?
Current State and Prospects of the Liberal Party of Canada

Was wird aus den Linken?
Aktueller Zustand und Perspektiven der Liberalen Partei Kanadas

The Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) has dominated Canada’s federal governance throughout the post-war period and has provided Canadians with many elements of a social democratic policy legacy. Nowadays, as an electoral and policy-making force it is a shadow of its former self. The party is struggling to find a modern identity, progressive narrative, value proposition, and corresponding policy agenda. The party has failed to even attempt to crystallize a progressive, Liberal narrative and agenda for the twenty-first century, which it could then present to the public as fundamentally different from those of the Conservative government.

 

ANNA MATERSKA-SOSNOWSKA
The Crisis of Social Democracy in Poland:
A New Start for the Left?

Die Krise der Sozialdemokratie in Polen
Ein Neuanfang für die Linke?

The crisis of Polish social democracy seems to be deeper and more serious than that of its western European counterparts. This is the result, not only of the narrowing of the political landscape, or a failure to act on the basis of social democratic principles, but also – or even primarily – of problems within the party and its ideological crisis. Therefore the Polish social democrats have to fight for its identity and create a »new left« program in order to solve the problems with both its image and its ideological and political credibility.

 

AGUSTÍN CANZANI
Substance and Reputation
Successes and Challenges for Progressive and Left Parties and Governments in South America

The emergence of globally recognized political leaders, the development of doctrines and policies which pose an alternative to neoliberalism, advocacy of a role for the state and the introduction of new topics for the public agenda affecting diverse interests have enabled Latin America to play a role at the forefront of the global debate about left-wing and progressive politics.

REZENSIONEN / BOOK REVIEWS

Alle Rezensionen als PDF / All reviews as PDF
in English
in German

Progress in an Age of Fear?

TONY JUDT:
Ill Fares the Land: A Treatise on Our Present Discontents

(Reviewer: Tobias Dürr )
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Is Equality Set to Return as a Political Good?

RICHARD WILKINSON/KATE PICKETT:
The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better

(Reviewers: Liana Fix/Gero Maass)
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FRANZ WALTER:
Vorwärts oder Abwärts? Zur Transformation der Sozialdemokratie

(Reviewer: Ernst Hillebrand)
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Left-wing Ways: Reconnoitering Political Topography

FRANZISKA DROHSEL (ed.):
Was ist heute Links? Thesen für eine Politik der Zukunft
and
SIGMAR GABRIEL:
Links neu denken. Politik für die Mehrheit

(Reviewer: Matthias Ecke)
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A. FISCHER-LESCANO/F. ROEDL/C. U. SCHMID (eds.):
Europäische Gesellschaftsverfassung. Zur Konstitutionalisierung sozialer Demokratie in Europa

(Reviewer: Thilo Scholle)
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J. CALLAGHAN/N. FISHMAN/B. JACKSON/M. MCIVOR (eds.):
In Search of Social Democracy. Responses to Crisis and Modernisation
and
P. DIAMOND/R. LIDDLE (eds.):
Beyond New Labour. The Future of Social Democracy in Britain

(Reviewer: Isabelle Hertner)