Social Democracy

Social Democracy by Hans Keman explores the integral role of social democratic parties and the system of social democracy in Western political life. The book delves into social democracy both as a political party and a broad movement, highlighting its status as a distinctive political force in the industrialised world.

It offers a critical comparative survey on the development of social democracy within established capitalist democracies, examining when, where, how, and why these movements have emerged. The book elucidates the electoral successes and failures of social democratic parties, analysing the influence of party systems and the dynamics of competition and co-operation between political parties.

The text also addresses the ideological tensions existing within social democratic parties, particularly between socialist and reformist factions. Additionally, it includes a diverse array of case studies from countries such as Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. It offers comparisons with the United States, Canada, and Japan as well.