Which Way Left for Social Democracy

Bourdouvalis examines how European democratic responses to the 2008 Global Financial Crisis demonstrated alternative forms of social democracy.

The book uses an interpretive case study analysis of democratic responses to the 2008 crisis and focuses on how movements in Spain, Greece and Iceland sought to confront and resist neoliberal post- democratic capitalism. It covers protests and social mobilisation against austerity politics between 2008 and 2017, highlighting not only the inherent tensions and contradictions of neoliberal capitalism but also the ineffectiveness of existing social democracy to meet systemic disorders of post- 2008 Europe. Where social democracy literature often focuses on core European countries like Germany and the UK, this book offers interesting analysis on countries found at the periphery of social democracy’s history and academic study.

An essential book for academics and researchers of social democracy, left politics and political economy, as well as those interested in comparative politics, democratic theory and social movement studies.