Social Democratic policies also require growth and in a world where limited resources will increasingly make it harder to grow the economy this will be a challenge. Converting to a steady state economy with shorter work days, but more family and community responsibility for the welfare sector with volunteer work replacing public employees, is one way to go. But there will be major transitional problems and any break with the current consumer culture will be unpopular.
That is a key point. I would add that, as long as sustained growth is unworkable in the long term due to limited resources, 'social democratic', 'progressive' or 'left-wing' policies should pursue a redistributive model based on sustainable development. Necessarily, it must go in open opposition with our consumer culture or, in other words, it must press for a radical change in consumption habits. As you pointed out, it might be widely unpopular. Anyway, the increasing inequality added to an increasing competition for the diminishing resources, trends that will be aggravated as the effects of global warming become more evident, makes necessary to address the challenge of finding an economic alternative for the years to come. As for the future of the Social Democracy, I don't know.
