SOCIAL DEMOCRACY IN THE AGE OF GLOBALIZATION

This book studies Social Democracy within the context
of globalization. It questions both the argument over
its unviability within the context and the
accusations directed to it after 1980, such as that
it has moved to the New Right stance and that it has
experienced ruptures from its tradition, such as its
acceptance of market economy and of the individual
and breaking its ties with the working class. Against
such criticisms this work argues that their
understanding of Social Democracy arose from the
shortages of their analysis which focuses merely
either on party politics or on policies. Social
Democracy however is more about values, orientations
or convictions than a specific policy objective. This
work therefore states that its examination (and what
social democrats have to do) should also include its
principles, such as democracy, progressiveness and
social justice. By including its values, the book
defines Social Democracy as a movement pursuing its
principles within Capitalism. Such a definition
presents the shortcomings of its
criticisms/accusations and in turn the continuity
within its tradition as well as its viability within
the context of globalization.

Autorentext

Ihsan Kamalak, PhD: Studied Political Science at Ankara Uni.-Turkey(BA), Wollongong Uni.-Australia (MA-Honors) and Middle EastTechnical Uni.-Turkey(PhD); studies comparative governments andTurkish politics; is lecturer at the Public Administration Dep.of Mersin Uni.-Turkey.

Klappentext

This book studies Social Democracy within the contextof globalization. It questions both the argument overits unviability within the context and theaccusations directed to it after 1980, such as thatit has moved to the New Right stance and that it hasexperienced ruptures from its tradition, such as itsacceptance of market economy and of the individualand breaking its ties with the working class. Againstsuch criticisms this work argues that theirunderstanding of Social Democracy arose from theshortages of their analysis which focuses merelyeither on party politics or on policies. SocialDemocracy however is more about values, orientationsor convictions than a specific policy objective. Thiswork therefore states that its examination (and whatsocial democrats have to do) should also include itsprinciples, such as democracy, progressiveness andsocial justice. By including its values, the bookdefines Social Democracy as a movement pursuing itsprinciples within Capitalism. Such a definitionpresents the shortcomings of itscriticisms/accusations and in turn the continuitywithin its tradition as well as its viability withinthe context of globalization.