Is Social Democracy dead?

[Antonio the Sixth]

I said this 3 years ago, and I stick by it:

So, is Social Democracy an ideology whose time has gone? Only future will provide the answer, but, in regard to the main problems of modern societies, the forceful values which Social Democracy embodies might not be as out of touch as it is often claimed.

Non-sage version: Social Democracy is what the world needs right now, even though politicians and voters might well be too stupid to understand that.

[Antonio the Sixth]

To elaborate: the only substantial difference between then and now (and the main reason why Social Democracy is in trouble), is that, until the 70s, nationwide Social Democracy was capable of achieving its main goals. Nowadays, only transnational (ideally worldwide, but area-wide would be a good start) Social Democracy can truly work. It could easily be done, if people get a clue.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Wow, I'm really surprised my comments didn't spark myriad of condescending / outraged / annoyed replies...

[Antonio the Sixth]

Wow, I'm really surprised my comments didn't spark myriad of condescending / outraged / annoyed replies...

So far this thread has been a discussion among people who are either green, democratic socialists, social democrats or - in my case -  Christian Democrat with leftist tendencies on socio-economic and environmental issues. I think that's rather pleasant, its not a topic where comments from people who are totally alien to the Social Democratic tradition and/or its history will add anything of value.

There is no need to actively try to entice right wingers to come and say you are a naive dreamer etc. That will just clutter up the thread.

That's not what I meant and that wasn't my goal. I expected the comments on naivete to come up because that's what always happens when I give my opinion on either Social Democracy, European federalism, or globalization. I made these comments because these are some of my most deeply held beliefs, and I rarely have the occasion to spit them out so clearly as I did this time around. Obviously, I wish to see them discussed - but I'm certainly not eager for snarky replies. In fact, even though I have grown a thick skin over the years, I must confess I still resent them somewhat. Nobody likes to be treated like a kid, especially as I believe I've put at least some thought in building my political beliefs.

Besides, I would say "democratic socialists" (at least the True Leftist kind) are usually the most condescending, followed by center-right anti-EU Europeans. American right-wingers generally don't care about these ideological nuances, to them we're all the same.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Wow, I'm really surprised my comments didn't spark myriad of condescending / outraged / annoyed replies...

I didn't comment on your post because...

I think all of those were very good reasons to comment on my post. At least if you believe if I have anything worthwhile to say on the subject. Which I'm not sure I have, but will try to come up with when I have more time.

For the time being, let me just say that I don't believe I have any recipe for making workers (or anyone else) believe in Social Democracy again. I've never been good at convincing people and while I know for a fact that an ideological elite can significantly reshape the political culture of their societies (because it has been done many times in history), I have little idea how exactly it is done. What pisses me off is that modern left-wing politicians don't even bother trying. They have been wiping their asses with Social Democracy for two decades now - so of course the working class is not going to adhere to Social Democracy, since the case for it has never been presented to them.