15232
Advanced seminar
The Rise, Fall and Future of Social Democracy in Europe
Marvin Reis
Comments
Over the past decade, social democratic parties across Europe have suffered their worst election results in history. This shift in party systems is closely linked to other political developments, such as the rise of right-wing populism. As traditional left-wing parties struggle with mobilization, a key question arises: Does social democracy have a future?
Ironically, this question has been central to academic debates since the end of World War II. While many have predicted the decline of social democratic parties before, they have managed to survive. How have they done so? And at what cost? Understanding the current challenges facing social democratic parties requires a deeper look into their nature, their relationship to class politics, and their historical trajectory.
In this course, we will examine the state of social democratic parties today by tracing their evolution from the rise of leftist parties in the 19th century to the present. The first part will explore historical academic debates on social democracy, class politics, as well as the development of party systems. In the second part, we will analyse the current challenges facing social democratic parties, highlight different explanations for their decline in voter support, and draw connections to historical debates on the subject. Finally, we will discuss potential strategies for the future of social democracy.
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15 Class schedule
Regular appointments
Wed, 2025-04-16 14:00 - 16:00
Wed, 2025-04-23 14:00 - 16:00
Wed, 2025-04-30 14:00 - 16:00
Wed, 2025-05-07 14:00 - 16:00
Wed, 2025-05-14 14:00 - 16:00
Wed, 2025-05-21 14:00 - 16:00
Wed, 2025-05-28 14:00 - 16:00
Wed, 2025-05-28 16:00 - 18:00
Wed, 2025-06-04 14:00 - 16:00
Wed, 2025-06-11 14:00 - 16:00
Wed, 2025-06-18 14:00 - 16:00
Wed, 2025-06-25 14:00 - 16:00
Wed, 2025-07-02 14:00 - 16:00
Wed, 2025-07-09 14:00 - 16:00
Wed, 2025-07-16 14:00 - 16:00