The Case for Social Democracy

THE CASE FOR SOCIAL DEMOCRACY

18 February 2005

• 
  Speech at UCD, on “Perspectives on a left-led Ireland”
  
  I’m here to put forward modern social democracy as the future of the left in Ireland as the only real way to advance the cause of socialist values and to create a better society.
  
  We can argue all night about definitions, but suffice it to say that when I say social democracy, I mean a political philosophy that believes in the mixed economy, the liberty of individuals, an equal and fair society, a strong role for the state in protecting the weak, in building systems of health, education, and welfare that guarantee citizens an adequate standard of living and quality of life.
  
  It is the system of government that over the last hundred years has brought about the most advanced societies in terms of economic prosperity, individual liberty, equality, better standards of public healthcare, good state-run education, public housing, and, to varying degrees, a safety net that ensures that absolute poverty is all but absent from those countries where social democracy has had a consistent foothold in government. It is a system that respects and believes in liberal democracy as the best way to ensure stable, peaceful societies where individuals can fulfil their potential.
  
  It is a system of government born of the socialist and labour movement in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. It is the mainstream of the labour movement for nigh on a century that believes in reform as a way of improving the lives of citizens.
  
  It is one of the greatest strengths and the worst of weaknesses of the left that we have meetings like this. We on the left seem to be perennially in a state of crisis. “Where now for socialism?” after the fall of communism, as if the two had any real connection. “Whither the left” after Labour lost again in Britain–and yes there was a time when they always lost. And so it goes on to the challenges of globalisation today. Such constant analysis makes us very self-aware, but also very self-absorbed. Conservatives don’t worry too much about things like this. Their ideological purity, such as it is, comes way behind their real priority – being in power. For while they don’t always believe in government as a force for good, they firmly understand the importance of power in advancing their agenda.
  
  It is ironic that many on the left have the darkest conspiracy theories about the right and conservative forces, and the lengths they will go to to obtain and hold power. Yet many of exactly the same people argue that liberal democracy cannot deliver real change, and disdain social democratic parties who want to be in government. But if nothing can change, why the fear, why the disdain? In truth, government does matter, and who is in government matters.
  
  The five-day week, the state pension, unfair dismissals law, maternity leave, equal treatment for women, unemployment benefit, the welfare state, trade union rights, anti-discrimination legislation, the list goes on and on. Every single advancement in social progress in the last century, from the introduction of national insurance in the 1910s to the advent of the welfare state have been won by people like us against people like them.
  
  Commentators are fond of saying that there’s no difference between political parties any more. They say our values are all the same. That is not true.
  
  It was social democrats like Olof Palme who led the developed world in campaigns against apartheid when others favoured appeasement, who spoke out for liberation movements throughout Africa against conservative forces in the first world. It was social democrats like Willy Brandt who first made international solidarity with the developing world a real issue for first world governments.
  
  And in Ireland, Labour is the Irish party of progress. I was asked here to speak for five minutes on perspectives on the future of the left in Ireland, with a slant towards local government. Local government in Ireland, as everybody here knows, is a very flawed entity. I don’t intend to bore you with chapter and verse with what goes on in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown – I promise, but I do want to give you a flavour of what we have done since taking over the council last July. First, there is a five-year political programme for the council for the first time ever. Forty nine new playgrounds and leisure facilities will be built in the next five years, from playgrounds to all-weather floodlit pitches.
  
  From no provision last year to provision for central heating in 350 local authority houses.
  From no provision last year to provision for window replacement in 100 local authority homes.
  
• A 53% increase in the disabled person’s grant.
• A 50% increase in the homeless programme.
• 11% increase in local area plans.
• 10% in footpath repairs.
• 20% in Arts/Heritage provision.
• 20% in Community Affairs provision.
• 34% in bookstock for libraries. In 2003, there was no provsion for new books.
  
  And so it goes on, each gradual step improving the lives of citizens.
  
  Now there are two elements of social democracy that cause consternation for those on the far left. They are co-operation with conservative parties and acceptance of the mixed economy, and let me make two brief remarks on this.
  
  First, social democracy is about reform. Reform can’t be brought about on an ongoing basis without power, and in this country, that means coalition with conservative parties. It is pretty much as simple as that. However, rather than visceral hatred of the right, it is important to remember that there are progressive strains in other parties. Historically, it was reform by liberals, under pressure from the left, that brought about the peaceful transition to universal suffrage and the first social democratic governments. There are elements in all parties in this country with whom we share some ground, and I sincerely doubt if there’s anyone here tonight who’s any different. It is also important to remember that pressure from the social democratic and labour movement has brought about many more reforms, and that social democrats in government will achieve a lot more than those in opposition. Government is not easy. It is about compromise and hard choices, and that is as true for a government with an absolute majority as it is for a smaller party in government.
  
  Second, on the market economy, I believe that the market is an efficient way of allocating resources that works in many cases and not in others. Where it works, let it work. Where it doesn’t, stop it; and where it tends to break down, regulate it. But I don’t live in a market, and I don’t want to live in a market. I live in a society in which markets exist. They exist to serve society, not the other way around. And that is one of the classic differences between right and left today. It is another irony that some to the left of us, and some to the right of us, seem to agree on the power of the market – those who believe in Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” on one side, let’s call them the right-handers, and those, let’s call them the left-handers, who believe that the same invisible hand is stronger than the fist of people power they symbolically wave at rallies and meetings – that capitalism can’t be controlled without destroying it.
  
  In concluding, there is still much to be done by social democrats in the future. Domestically, the safety net that is afforded by decent health and education systems is in dire need of reform. This society is becoming more unequal in spite of all our prosperity. It takes imagination and vision to deal with them. Politics is about priorities, and you will tell more about the political stripe of a party from its priorities than from any name or slogan.