Social democracy has made a political comeback in recent years, especially under the influence of the ‘Third Way’. Not everyone is convinced, however, that ‘Third Way’ social democracy is the best means of reviving the Left's project. This book considers this dissent and offers an alternative approach. Bringing together a range of social and political theories, it engages with some contemporary debates regarding the present direction and future of the Left. Drawing upon egalitarian, feminist and environmental ideas, the book proposes that the social democratic tradition can be renewed but only if the dominance of conservative ideas is challenged more effectively. It explores a number of issues with this aim in mind, including justice, the state, democracy, new technologies, future generations and the advances in genetics.
acts punishable by the State, the introduction of ‘no fault’ laws which made divorce even easier, and the diminution of public support for corporal punishment in schools. As for the reduction in moral suasion, Etzioni points to the effects of an upsurge in welfare liberal and laissez-faire conservative ideas as they took their respective turns to replace coercive measures
conservative ideas was a moral crusade that emphasised individualism rather than collectivism and self-reliance rather than state support. The practical outcomes of these positions, notably the huge increase in unemployment, an increase in the gap between rich and poor and a general sense of deepening social division, caused great unease among ‘one-nation’ Conservatives. Indeed, for some, at least, the
(some) party programmes and interviews she concludes that ‘it is indeed difficult to agree on a common label or category for them’ (1993: 121). As far as there is an appropriate label for all four parties, it is the label ‘new right’. However, this label has the disadvantage of being rather vague, i.e. meaning a combination of neoliberal and neo-conservative ideas, and is applicable to a far broader range of parties, such as those normally labelled ‘conservative’ (1993: 122). These two studies show that although there exists a rather broad consensus on the existence