Globalization, Europeanization and the End of Scandinavian Social Democracy?

A key debate in the 1980s and 1990s revolves around the growing power of globalization and, in the European context, Europeanization. For many, stressing the revolutionary increase in capital mobility and the subsequent decline in national autonomy, the end of the nation-state has arrived. For others, noting the remarkable resilience of national institutions and welfare state structures, national distinctions remain paramount.

Denmark, Norway and Sweden lie at the heart of this debate. With extensive welfare states, high levels of social rights, powerful social democratic parties and trade-union movements and strong economic performance records, they remain islands of social democratic success in an increasingly neo-liberal economic ocean. Can this be maintained or are we witnessing the end of the social democratic era?

This book attempts to answer this question by exploring the development of Scandinavian economic policy, welfare state/social policy and social democratic strategies. It argues that Scandinavian social democracy is under substantial global and European pressure. Nevertheless, despite various difficulties and adjustments, it continues to maintain its distinct social demo-cratic profile, demonstrating that social democracy continues to survive in the new global and European order.