Beyond New Labour : The Future of Social Democracy in Britain

The current global economic crisis represents an ideological turning point in British politics; it is for neo-liberalism what the Winter of Discontent proved for post-war social democracy.

But this weakening in neo-liberalism long pre-dates New Labour's victory in 1997, and the post-war period has seen social democracy gradually wane as a framework for addressing the challenges facing the governance of Britain.

But how can 'real' Labour reassert itself? Not through a new confidence in the role that an 'active state' must play in regulating and managing capitalism; that would be a dangerous and complacent assumption.

The return of economics to the forefront of political debate can only temporarily mask the tensions in the social democratic coalition. "Beyond New Labour" aims to stimulate debate about the next generation of the social democratic programme for Britain.

It focuses not on questions of leadership, nor directly on the future of the Labour Party, but on the structural choices and constraints that shape the potential of social democracy - taking into account today's economic and social realities. This vital and timely book is edited by Roger Liddle and Patrick Diamond, who have also written key chapters and the introduction and conclusion.

They have assembled an important and influential team to ensure that the book has real breadth and is a major contribution to political debate.