Tag archive for ‘European Elections’
Can The State Still Be Saved?
After eleven years in government, the German Social Democratic Party are now having to cope with their greatest electoral defeat in the post-war period. On the day of the election there was a feeling almost of unbelief about what was happening, not just among party members but also among many supporters. How was it possible [...]
After the European Elections: Why we need a more European Social Democracy
Measured against the hopes of a positive shift in power in favour of social democracy in the wake of the financial and economic crisis, European social democracy, even if the real balance of power has barely changed, is the loser in the European elections in 2009. Leaving aside the general tendency at European elections for [...]
We have won nothing – the Future of Social Democracy
It is time to ditch the third way and start a renaissance in social-democratic thought. When social democrats write about the future of social democracy, there is often a conspicuous absence of any sense of ownership. People make references to an elusive ‘social democracy’ or ‘social democrats’, without ever referring to themselves. I am a [...]
The Good Society Needs Good Social Democrats
Many expected that, as a result of the failure of finance capitalism and the consequent crisis of confidence, Europe’s political coordinates would shift to the left. The European elections – the first substantial political test since the outbreak of the crisis – have shown, however, that these coordinates have, if anything, shifted to the right. [...]
New Answers to Old Questions
Social democrats need to move beyond neoliberalism to find new ways of promoting the well-being of ordinary citizens. The crisis of neoliberal capitalism was widely supposed to be a huge opportunity for the mainstream left, in Europe and elsewhere. Having been largely sidelined politically and on the defensive intellectually for most of the period since [...]
Greek Elections: a social democratic landslide
The Greek social democracts have recorded a landslide victory and have received a clear mandate to implement their programme. Their triumph indicates that social democracts remain relevant and capable of forming large majorities supportive of their values.
Rebuilding the left after the European Parliament elections
The European Parliament Election results on Sunday were not good for social democratic and labour parties across Europe, polling 3% less than at the elections in 2004. PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, posting at Labourlist, states rather blandly that “We need more PES, not less PES” so as to do better next time. I’m afraid [...]
The European Parliamentary Election Result – What’s Your Opinion?
As the results of the European parliamentary elections are coming in we are interested in your opinions! Use this open thread to voice your opinions and publish your analysis.
The 2009 European Elections: More of the Same, unfortunately!
In a few weeks’ time citizens of the European Union across the continent will take part in this year’s European Parliament elections. Many others, probably the majority of eligible voters, will once more shun away from the voting booths. The reasons for increasing voter apathy and growing nervousness (bordering on Euro scepticism) about the EU [...]
