Rebuilding Social Democracy: Core Principles for the Centre Left

by Kevin Hickson (Editor)

Overview

The British Labour Party is in crisis. A prolonged period of government between 1997 and 2010 saw the party intellectually exhausted. The subsequent leadership of Ed Miliband ultimately failed with the loss of the 2015 General Election, and the party now finds itself without a clearly defined set of aims and values. Rebuilding Social Democracy is the first major reappraisal of social democracy and thinking on the centre left since the election of Jeremy Corbyn. With a foreword by Peter Hain, it examines the key foundational principles of social democracy, including economic reform, equality, welfare, public service organisation, social cohesion, civil liberties, democratisation, and internationalism, in order to find a route back to political credibility for Labour. Written by leading academics in the field, it identifies the values and objectives needed to move the party forward, and revive left and centre-left thought and practice in Britain as an alternative to Conservative austerity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447333173
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	11/01/2016
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Dr Kevin Hickson is Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Liverpool, where he teaches and researches on British political ideologies. He has published widely, including to debates on the future of the Labour Party. He was Labour's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate in East Yorkshire in 2015 and is a Labour Councillor in Crewe, where he was Leader of the Council between 2013-15.

Table of Contents

Contributors iv

Foreword: rediscovering confidence and soul Peter Hain v

Introduction Kevin Hickson 1

1 Political economy Kevin Hickson 9

2 Equality Robert M. Page 25

3 Weltare Pete Redford 43

4 Public services Simon Griffiths 59

5 Social cohesion Jasper Miles 77

6 Civil liberties Judi Atkins 95

7 Citizenship and the constitution Emily Robinson 111

8 Internationalism Matt Beech 127

9 Conclusion Kevin Hickson 141

Index 145

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Every generation of social democrats must revise their ideology to reflect new times and this book does exactly that." Lord Raymond Plant, Labour Peer, House of Lords

"The arguments contained in this book point to one way out of the current impasse the Labour Party finds itself in." Polly Toynbee, Guardian Columnist

"An incisive and eloquent collection of essays which engage with the underlying political principles shaping centre-left politics in the world today." Patrick Diamond, Queen Mary, University of London

Editorial Reviews

"A perceptive contribution to debates about the Labour Party which now faces a crisis of existence as a serious political force." Lord Neil Kinnock

"A serious and timely attempt to find a solution to Labour's 'existential crisis'." Steven Fielding, University of Nottingham

From the Publisher

The arguments contained in this book point to one way out of the current impasse the Labour Party finds itself in.

Polly Toynbee

Every generation of social democrats must revise their ideology to reflect new times and this book does exactly that.

Lord Raymond Plant

A serious and timely attempt to find a solution to Labour’s ‘existential crisis.’

Steven Fielding

A perceptive contribution to debate about the Labour Party, which now faces a crisis of existence as a serious political force.

Lord Neil Kinnock

An incisive and eloquent collection of essays which engage with the underlying political principles shaping centre-left politics in the world today.

Patrick Diamond