Tag archive for ‘SPD’
Democratic Politics beyond the Third Way
Social democrats have a strong claim on democracy, and for good reason. First, their opposition to Soviet-style communism and their commitment to parliamentary democracy marked the beginning of their journey towards power.
Second, as soon as the alliance with the liberals fulfilled the goal of equality in political representation for the working class, they set their [...]
The Future of Social Democracy is European
Social Democracy has always been an idea and a strategy of social change. As a progressive movement it has always been on the offensive. When in the 1980s market-radical theories, supported by neo-conservatives and neo-liberals, began to dominate public opinion, the defensive mechanisms of social democracy proved to be rather poor. There was scattered resistance, [...]
Facing Up To Our Mistakes
Social democrats must be promoters of progressive change, not technocrats.
It is remarkable how social democrats are discovering the European debate. After their disastrous election results, it seems that social-democratic party leaders, in their desperate search for explanation and orientation, have noticed for the first time that they are part of an already existing European network. [...]
Revitalising Social Democracy
As well as new policies, social democrats need a strong ‘demand-side’ perspective, which focuses on renewing democracy in the party, the local state and the community.
The electoral defeat of the German Social Democrats on 27 September was a disaster. The party slumped to its worst performance in the history of the Federal Republic, losing [...]
The Principles of Communal Reciprocity
Jerry Cohen’s camping-trip fable offers a down-to-earth approach to social-democratic principles.
Being a socialist often requires a leap of faith. Though there are real institutions we can point to that at least in part embody key socialist values such as equality and community – the NHS of course springs to mind – the cause of [...]
Does Europe’s Social Democracy still have a Future?
Social democracy will only be able to sustain a social Europe through strengthening European democratic institutions.
German Social Democrats are lucky. Although in September they received their lowest vote in a federal election since the war– 23 per cent – things could have been worse. The result was still three percentage points more than they received [...]
Time for a twenty-first Century Social Democracy
Social democrats need a new understanding of the historic compromises that are necessary for the practice of power.
The German election defeat followed on from losses for social democratic parties in the European Parliament elections. To be sure, socialists kept power in Portugal and Norway, but without a majority of votes. And PASOK’s win in Greece was based on a new politics, [...]
Beyond the Third Way
Angela Merkel´s recent victory confirms what many already knew – Europe´s social democratic parties have failed to distill any political benefit from the association between the right’s reverence for unfettered markets and the economic crises that grip the continent.
Historically, Europeans turn to conservatives in times of crisis. But today, the situation is more complex. In [...]
Cooperation with Die Linke, and Müntefering out: the way forward for Social Democracy in Germany
Hoping for the continuation of the grand coalition was the best the SPD could hope for before yesterday’s Bundestagswahl. In the end the result was even worse than that: 23.1% and a historic low vote for the social democrats. Guido Westerwelle’s beaming grim was everywhere, the FDP the big winners on the night.
Looking behind the [...]
SPD defeated in Germany – What’s next?
The SPD has just been dealt a hard blow: the worst election result since the foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany with just over 23 per cent (down from 34.2).
Yet again, a European social democratic party has suffered a severe electoral defeat. What’s your opinion? What are the reasons? And what can be done [...]
Will there be an ‘unconstitutional’ Election Victory in Germany?
Germany will vote for a new federal government on Sunday and the polls predict a tight race between the red-red-green and conservative-liberal camps. Given the party’s announcements about potential coalitions, however, there are only two possible governments: a conservative-liberal (preferred by Angela Merkel) or another grand coalition.
Yet one of the important questions is how a [...]
German Social Democrats call for Tobin Tax
The German social democrats announced yesterday that they are backing a global Tobin tax:
“According to a report in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, the SPD is proposing a modest tax rate of 0.05 percent on financial transactions based on the principle that the parties responsible for the global economic quagmire are also liable for the damages.
SPD [...]