Social democracy

Question 1

What is social democracy?

Answer 1

Revisionist form of democracy and attempts to reconcile free-market capitalism with state intervention, based on four assumptions

Question 2

What are the four assumptions that social democracy is based on?

Answer 2

1. Capitalism is a dependable creator of wealth that distributes wealth unfairly
2. State intervention in economic and social affairs protects the public and remedies capitalism’s weaknesses
3. Peaceful constitutional methods should be used to bring about social change
4. Socialism is morally superior to capitalism and should focus on social justice

Question 3

Social democracy in practice

Answer 3

1. Mixed economy with only key strategic industries nationalised e.g. Attlee Labour gov 1945-51
2. Keynesian economics as a way to regulate the capitalist economy and maintaining full employment
3. Reform (not removal) of capitalisim using the welfare state to redistribute wealth and tackle social inequality and poverty