A social democratic narrative of British democracy

Beech, Matt

Abstract

This article argues that social democracy as a political ideology has much to contribute to a narrative of British democracy. Democracy is the central tenet of social democracy and this distinguishes it from Marxist socialism. However, despite the Labour Party in Britain emanating from a rich tradition of democratic politics, Labour elites have often been reluctant democratisers. Firstly, this article evaluates the ideological role of democracy in social democracy; secondly, it weighs New Labour’s record on the democratisation agenda; and finally, it prescribes three democratic reforms to aspects of the British political system consistent with the aims of social democracy.

Citation

Beech, M. (2012). A social democratic narrative of British democracy. Policy studies : the journal of the Policy Studies Institute, 33(2), 133-144. https://doi.org/10.1080/01442872.2011.601205

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 25, 2011
• Online Publication Date: Nov 29, 2011
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2012
• Print ISSN: 0144-2872
• Electronic ISSN: 1470-1006
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 33
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 133-144
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01442872.2011.601205
• Keywords: Political Science and International Relations
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/409667