Review article
Why is European Social Democracy in Crisis: Pan-European Debate, 2009-2011
Miroslav Ružica
Abstract
We are in the third year of the pan-european debate on the future of European
Social Democracy (ESD). It is a response to the challenges of the global
economic crisis, but also a response to the deep internal crisis within the
ESD. While the social democrats were in power in the majority of European
countries in the year 2000 (11 of 15 EU members), they are rulling parties in
only few peripheral countries in 2011 (4 of 27 EU countries). Althouth they
are still able to attact 20-30% of voters, and with toghether with their partners
are even able to form goverments in some countries, their margananalization
is a major trend. This is not only because of electoral defeats, but it is due
to membership decline, shaken ties with trade unions, lack of an alternative
program in a situation when neoliberalism is shaken and political actors have
searching for new formulae. In a search of their own identity, new paradigm
and attractive program, pan-european debate critically analyze key issues and
challenges of our civilization, such as globalization, nature of capitalism and its
possible reforms, meaning and importance of the EU , the role of government
regarding markets. This debate has brouth back into public discourse many
important concepts that constitute the idea of ‘good society,’ such as social
values (equailty, solidarity, social justice), buth also importance of culture,
middle class, and social and environmental sustainability.
Keywords
social democracy; globalization; global crisis; Left; equality; middle class; the role of state
Hrčak ID:
146065
URI
Publication date:
8.12.2011.
Visits: 1.520 *