Future of social democracy | IPS Journal

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pa / dpa | Thomas_Coex

Future of social democracy

On the road to nowhere

The long decline of social democracy began with the ‘Third Way’. Since then, it has been searching for a new direction

By Polly Toynbee

picture-alliance / akg-images

Future of social democracy

Power without the people

What democracy needs is not nostalgia, but reinvention. It must become participatory again — not just in name, but in practice

By Rachel Beatty Riedl

Canva/IPS

Future of social democracy

The pitfalls of the all-holy economic god

Economics isn’t sacred. We must challenge economic goals with interdisciplinary force

By Kate Pickett

picture alliance/AP Photo | Marcos Moreno

Future of social democracy

Spain is an example to the world

At a time when many Western democracies are trying to keep immigrants out, the country is boldly welcoming them in

By Omar G. Encarnación

picture alliance / imageBROKER | Anastasiia Torianyk

Future of social democracy

The myth of the lazy worker

Contrary to the European trend, Germany wants to extend daily working hours. Here’s why the current debate is a step backwards

By Susan Javad

picture alliance / Westend61 | Irina Heß

Future of social democracy

Man enough

Between strength and softness lies a new kind of manhood

By Philipp Kauppert

picture alliance / Photoshot

Future of social democracy

Hate is not a value

During wartime, nationalism can be a source of self-identification — or radicalism. Young people need progressive leaders, not slogans or coercion

By Bohdan Ferens

picture-alliance/ dpa | Justin_Lane

Future of social democracy

Restoring lost livelihoods is essential for saving democracy

Trump owes his electoral success to workers without college degrees who feel betrayed by the system. The onset of AI will make this problem much larger

By Mordecai Kurz

picture alliance / ANP | Robin van Lonkhuijsen

Future of social democracy

A greener kind of red

GroenLinks and PvdA have merged to shift Dutch politics to the centre. But internal divisions could derail their ambitions

By René Cuperus

picture alliance / Sipa USA | Hindustan Times

Future of social democracy

Made in chaos

The industrial heartlands of the Global South are bracing for impact. Trump’s tariff gamble might spark the fiercest class struggles in decades

By Paul Mason