History of History of Social Democracy Social Democracy

(Version 1.0) (Version 1.0)

Associate Professor Phua Kai Associate Professor Phua Kai LitLit

Monash University MalaysiaMonash University Malaysia

July 2015July 2015

Lecture Objectives Lecture Objectives What is Social Democracy?What is Social Democracy? Historical roots Historical roots World War One, Social Democracy and World War One, Social Democracy and

Communism Communism Differences between Social Democracy and Differences between Social Democracy and

Communism Communism Social Democracy during the Great Depression Social Democracy during the Great Depression Social Democracy (1945 – 1973)Social Democracy (1945 – 1973) Social Democracy and neoliberalismSocial Democracy and neoliberalism Social Democracy today – ScandinaviaSocial Democracy today – Scandinavia Social Democracy today – developing countriesSocial Democracy today – developing countries

What is “Social Democracy”?What is “Social Democracy”?Democracy = rule by the people Democracy = rule by the people

Social Democracy = a democratic Social Democracy = a democratic government that serves mainly to promote government that serves mainly to promote the welfare or well-being of the peoplethe welfare or well-being of the people

Social Democratic governments have been Social Democratic governments have been important in building the “Welfare State” in important in building the “Welfare State” in northern Europe (e.g. Sweden, Finland) and northern Europe (e.g. Sweden, Finland) and western Europe (e.g. Britain, Germany) western Europe (e.g. Britain, Germany)

Historical Roots Historical Roots The socialist movement arose in direct response to The socialist movement arose in direct response to

the serious social problems associated with the serious social problems associated with industrialisation and urbanisation in Europe.industrialisation and urbanisation in Europe.

Social problems arising from industrialisation & Social problems arising from industrialisation & urbanisation: very bad working and living urbanisation: very bad working and living conditions (low pay, long working hours, unsafe conditions (low pay, long working hours, unsafe working conditions, child labour; poor quality working conditions, child labour; poor quality housing – no proper water supply, poor sanitation, housing – no proper water supply, poor sanitation, overcrowding, damp, filthy/polluted environment)overcrowding, damp, filthy/polluted environment)

The socialist movement pushed for better pay and The socialist movement pushed for better pay and better working conditions, and the right to form better working conditions, and the right to form trade unionstrade unions

The socialists became especially strong in Germany The socialists became especially strong in Germany

World War One, Social World War One, Social Democracy and Communism Democracy and Communism

Disagreement over participation in World War One led Disagreement over participation in World War One led to the split in the socialist movement between Social to the split in the socialist movement between Social Democrats and Communists in European countriesDemocrats and Communists in European countries

German Social Democrats mostly supported the German Social Democrats mostly supported the participation of their armed forces in World War One. participation of their armed forces in World War One. German Communists strongly opposed this.German Communists strongly opposed this.

This was also the case in France. However, the French This was also the case in France. However, the French socialist leader (Jean Jaures), a social democrat, was socialist leader (Jean Jaures), a social democrat, was assassinated for opposing participation in World War assassinated for opposing participation in World War One. One.

What is the difference What is the difference between Social Democracy & between Social Democracy &

Communism? Communism?

The biggest difference: Social Democrats The biggest difference: Social Democrats emphasise emphasise popular DEMOCRACYpopular DEMOCRACY i.e. the i.e. the people actually choose their Government people actually choose their Government and have input into public policies that and have input into public policies that affect their lives.affect their lives.

Another big difference: Social Democrats Another big difference: Social Democrats believe in change through believe in change through NON-VIOLENT NON-VIOLENT REFORMREFORM. .

What is the difference between What is the difference between Social Democracy & Social Democracy &

Communism? Communism? Social Social DemocracDemocracyy

CommunisCommunismm

CommentsComments::

PoliticsPolitics Compete Compete for power for power through through electionselections

One party One party dictatorshidictatorshipp

Marx, Marx, Engels and Engels and Lenin Lenin influencedinfluenced

CommunisCommunismm

EconomEconomyy

Mixed Mixed economy economy

(some (some state state ownershipownership))

In the In the past: total past: total state state control of control of economyeconomy

CommunisCommunistt

countriescountries

today: today: China China

What is the difference between Social What is the difference between Social Democracy & Communism? Democracy & Communism?

Social Social DemocracyDemocracy

CommunismCommunism

SocialSocial May have May have Affirmative Affirmative Action for Action for some groups some groups (women, (women, minorities)minorities)

Special Special privileges for privileges for Communist Communist Party Party membersmembers

onlyonly

CulturaCultural l

Mass media is Mass media is largely free of largely free of

government government controlcontrol

Total Total government government control of control of mass mediamass media

Social Democracy during the Social Democracy during the Great Depression Great Depression

The Great Depression beginning in 1929 further The Great Depression beginning in 1929 further exacerbated the split between Social Democrats exacerbated the split between Social Democrats and Communistsand Communists

Communists argued that economic policy should Communists argued that economic policy should follow that of the Soviet Union under Stalin i.e. follow that of the Soviet Union under Stalin i.e. collectivisation of agriculture and state-controlled collectivisation of agriculture and state-controlled industrialisation in a “command economy”industrialisation in a “command economy”

Social Democrats were divided between those who Social Democrats were divided between those who advocated austerity (e.g. Ramsay MacDonald in UK) advocated austerity (e.g. Ramsay MacDonald in UK) and those who favoured greatly increasing and those who favoured greatly increasing spending on social services & more government spending on social services & more government regulation of the economy regulation of the economy

Social Democracy 1945-Social Democracy 1945-1973 1973 The Great Depression resulted in the rise of The Great Depression resulted in the rise of

Nazism and Fascism in Germany and Italy. Nazism and Fascism in Germany and Italy. Other countries such as France and Spain also Other countries such as France and Spain also had strong fascist movements. Fascism was had strong fascist movements. Fascism was also strong in Hungary and Romania. also strong in Hungary and Romania.

After the defeat of fascism in 1945, After the defeat of fascism in 1945, governments in Western Europe followed governments in Western Europe followed Keynesian and welfare state policies from 1945 Keynesian and welfare state policies from 1945 to the late 1970s.to the late 1970s.

The rise of Margaret Thatcher in UK (1979) and The rise of Margaret Thatcher in UK (1979) and Ronald Reagan in USA (1980) launched the Ronald Reagan in USA (1980) launched the right-wing assault against Social Democracy right-wing assault against Social Democracy and the welfare state. Thatcher wanted to “roll and the welfare state. Thatcher wanted to “roll back socialism” whilst Reagan wanted to “get back socialism” whilst Reagan wanted to “get government off the backs of the people”. government off the backs of the people”.

Social Democracy and Social Democracy and neoliberalismneoliberalism

Neoliberalism: an ideology that believes in the “magic of Neoliberalism: an ideology that believes in the “magic of the free market”, strongly opposes government the free market”, strongly opposes government regulation of the economy. It also favours privatisation regulation of the economy. It also favours privatisation and low public spending on social services.and low public spending on social services.

The intellectual victory of pro-market economic thought The intellectual victory of pro-market economic thought (as advocated by people such as Friedrich von Hayek and(as advocated by people such as Friedrich von Hayek and Milton Friedman) over Keynesian economic thought wasMilton Friedman) over Keynesian economic thought was responsible for the rise and present strength ofresponsible for the rise and present strength of neoliberalism.neoliberalism.

Some Social Democrats have even adopted aspects of Some Social Democrats have even adopted aspects of neoliberalism e.g. Tony Blair’s “Third Way” Labour neoliberalism e.g. Tony Blair’s “Third Way” Labour Party social democracy in the UK. Party social democracy in the UK.

Social Democracy today - Social Democracy today - ScandinaviaScandinavia

Social Democracy remains strong in Scandinavia Social Democracy remains strong in Scandinavia today e.g. Sweden, Norway, Finland. today e.g. Sweden, Norway, Finland.

Scandinavian Social Democrats continue to defend Scandinavian Social Democrats continue to defend and build on the achievements of the welfare and build on the achievements of the welfare states they have constructed in their respective states they have constructed in their respective countries.countries.

The Scandinavian countries are among the best The Scandinavian countries are among the best governed in the world. They also show excellent governed in the world. They also show excellent health and education indicators. Their standards health and education indicators. Their standards of living are also high. of living are also high.

Social Democracy today - Social Democracy today - Developing CountriesDeveloping Countries

Social Democratic leaders are achieving results in Social Democratic leaders are achieving results in developing countries e.g.developing countries e.g.

Ecuador – under the rule of President Rafael Correa Ecuador – under the rule of President Rafael Correa (who has a PhD in economics)(who has a PhD in economics)

Bolivia – under the rule of President Evo Morales (first Bolivia – under the rule of President Evo Morales (first indigenous Indian President)indigenous Indian President)

Chile – under the rule of President Michelle Bachelet Chile – under the rule of President Michelle Bachelet (former political prisoner and torture victim) (former political prisoner and torture victim)

Brazil – under the Presidency of Lula da Silva Brazil – under the Presidency of Lula da Silva (introduced the Bolsa Familia to help poor families) (introduced the Bolsa Familia to help poor families)

Tanzania – the first president, Julius Nyerere, left a Tanzania – the first president, Julius Nyerere, left a legacy of national unity and absence of racial politics legacy of national unity and absence of racial politics (that blight other African countries such as Rwanda, (that blight other African countries such as Rwanda, Kenya and Nigeria)Kenya and Nigeria)

Costa Rica, Mauritius. Costa Rica, Mauritius.

Examples of Social Democratic Examples of Social Democratic political partiespolitical parties

Swedish Social Democratic Party (SAP)Swedish Social Democratic Party (SAP)Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)Socialist Party of France (PS)Socialist Party of France (PS)New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP)New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP)Social Democratic Party of JapanSocial Democratic Party of JapanDemocratic Action Party of MalaysiaDemocratic Action Party of MalaysiaLabour Party of MauritiusLabour Party of Mauritius

All these are member parties of the Socialist All these are member parties of the Socialist InternationalInternational

Thank YouThank You