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.

PrefacePart I: IntroductionCh 1: The Mystery - and How to Solve ItCh 2: Social DemocracyCh 3: Cases and Contextual PuzzlesCh 4: Progress and Demise of the World's Largest Popular Reform Movement in IndonesiaCh 5: The Rise and Stagnation of Kerala's Emancipatory LeftCh 6: The 'People Power' Mystery in the PhilippinesCh 7: Effects in the North: From Internationalism to 'Social Democracy in one Country'- the Case of SwedenPart III: Challenges of Third Generation Social DemocracyCh 8: Philippine Experiments for a Democratic LeftCh 9: Rise and Demotion of the Indonesian Democracy Movement Ch 10 Dilemmas of Deepening Democracy after SuhartoCh 11: Kerala Renewal of Social DemocracyCh 12: Counter Movements in India?Ch 13: Inconclusive Left-of-Centre Politics in the PhilippinesCh 14: Whither Reformist Populism? The Indonesian ExperienceCh 15: Implications and Options in the North: the Swedish StalematePart IV: Reinventing Social DemocracyCh 16: Lessons for New Social DemocracyCh 17: Towards a Roadmap