Practical Social Democracy

Magnus Feldmann is Associate Professor of Politics at the University of Bristol. Jonas Hinnfors is Professor of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg and Honorary Senior Research fellow at the University of Stirling. Mark Wickham-Jones is Professor of Political Science at the University of Bristol.

'As there is no way back for Social Democracy to its 20th century heydays, this book asks what concrete, practical social democratic reformism implies in the 21st century. Practical Social Democracy is a fantastic, much-needed addition to current research on the future of social democratic parties, which remains too often focused on electoral performance. Uniting contributions from a stellar team of leading experts, the book takes the historical and current political challenges and constraints social democratic parties confront seriously and studies social democratic reform politics and policies across European countries. It is essential reading for anyone eager to move towards a constructive focus on the potential and practice of social democratic ideas in our times.' Silja Häusermann, Professor of Political Science, University of Zurich, Switzerland

• 1. Practical social democracy: an introduction Magnus Feldmann, Jonas Hinnfors and Mark Wickham-Jones; Part I. The Evolution and Institutionalization of Social Democracy: 2. The changing profiles and fortunes of centre-left parties Sheri Berman; 3. The future of social democracy Adam Przeworski; 4. Did the working class abandon the social democrats? Or was it the other way around? Jonas Pontusson; 5. The development of practical social democracy in the United Kingdom Mark Wickham-Jones; Part II. Social Democratic Policy-Making: 6. Pension markets in Sweden and Denmark: practical social democracy? Karen M. Anderson; 7. Embracing the market? Social democracy and financial liberalisation in Finland Magnus Feldmann; 8. The German social democrats' agricultural dilemma Brian Shaev; 9. Varieties of practical social democracy in Australia Rob Manwaring; 10. Paradigm change within the British Labour party Emmanuelle Avril and Eric Shaw; 11. Governing through inter-party dialogue: lessons in collaborative statecraft from Portugal 2015 –2022 Eunice Goes; Part III. Rhetoric, Language and Ideology: 12. Education and practical social democracy Jane Gingrich; 13. The (im)practical consequences of practical solutions: the increasing gap between ideological rhetoric and concrete policy pledges in Swedish social democracy Jonas Hinnfors; 14. Interpreting social democracy: 'common meanings' within the social democratic world Karl Pike; 15. British social democracy in practice: some lessons from history Jon Lawrence; 16. Conclusions: lessons from practical social democracy Magnus Feldmann, Jonas Hinnfors and Mark Wickham-Jones.