Democracy

Social democracy

Social democracy can be considered a spin-off of socialist and communist ideas, in a non-violent and pro-democratic setting. Many social democratic parties in the world are evolutions of revolutionary parties that, for ideologic or pragmatic reasons, renounced violence as a means of promoting their ideas.

Related Topics:
Socialist - Communist

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In North America and Western Europe, most parties calling themselves Socialist (or sometimes even Communist) are in actuality Social democratic, according to the definition given here. In some extreme cases, as in Portugal's Social Democratic party, the name actually indicates a right-wing party.

Related Topics:
Portugal - Social Democratic party

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In general, the hallmarks of social democracy are:

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• Market regulation;
• Social security, also known as welfare state;
• Subsidized or government-owned public school and health services;
• Progressive taxation.

Furthermore, for ideological affinity or other reasons, most social democrats are also associated with environmentalism, multiculturalism, and secularity.

Related Topics:
Environmentalism - Multiculturalism - Secularity

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Countries often indicated as social democracies are the Nordic countries, for their extensive welfare states and progressive taxation regime.

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