Why is the classical social democratic vision of development based on social justice by
democratic means losing ground? Why was it so difficult to renew even in the context of the
third wave of democracy in the South? How does this matter in the North too and how might it
be reinvented? This accessible book brings to life major insights gained through written
sources and interviews with a large range of activists and political protagonists in the
southern cases of Indonesia India and the Philippines - but also in the northern social
democratic stronghold of Sweden. By considering the experiences in view of the basics of Social
Democracy and a broader comparative framework Olle Törnquist arrives at globally relevant
conclusions. Crucially Törnquist also puts forward suggestions for how to achieve this
reinvention social democracy. Through implementation of broad alliances in the Global South
supported by the Global North for transformative rights and welfare reforms - universal
participatory and impartially implemented - precursors to social economic growth pacts can thus
be effected.
