Social democracy

Social democracy is a political ideology emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from supporters of Marxism who believed that the transition to a socialist society could be achieved through democratic evolutionary rather than revolutionary means. It emphasises a program of gradual legislative reform of the capitalist system in order to make it more equitable, usually with the theoretical end goal of building a socialist society.

Views of Social Democrats today

In general, contemporary Social Democrats support:

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• Regulatory systems over private enterprise in the interests of workers, consumers and small enterprise.
• An extensive system of social security (though usually not to the extent advocated by democratic socialists or other socialist groups), notably to counteract the effects of poverty and to insure the citizens against loss of income following illness or unemployment. (See welfare state)
• Government-owned or subsidised programs of education, health care, child care, etc. for all citizens.
• Moderate to high levels of taxation to fund government expenditure and a progressive taxation system.
• A system of industrial regulation (statutory minimum wages, working conditions, protection against arbitrary dismissal).
• Environmental protection laws (although not to the extent advocated by Greens).
• Immigration and multiculturalism.
• A secular and progressive social policy, although this varies markedly in degree. Some social democrats support gay marriage, abortion and a liberal drug policy, while others are either non-committed or openly opposed to these policies.
• A foreign policy supporting multilateralism and international institutions such as the United Nations.