What is social democracy?

Ideology

Social democracy is a political, social, and economic ideology that supports economic and social interventions to promote social justice within the framework of a liberal democracy and mixed economy, involving a policy regime of collective bargaining arrangements, a commitment to representative democracy, measures for income redistribution, regulation of the economy in the general interest, and welfare state provisions.

Social democracy originated as a political ideology that advocated an evolutionary and peaceful transition from capitalism to socialism using established political processes in contrast to the revolutionary approach to transition associated with orthodox Marxism. In modern times however, it has sought a compromise between capitalism and socialism, making it distinct from democratic socialism in that it does not seek to replace capitalism, merely reform it.

Despite its good intentions, social democracy leads to the erosion of individual responsibility and an increase in dependency and moral hazard. Also, like other centrally-planned economic systems, it is not immune to the economic calculation problem.

Followers

Social democrats support a balance of both cultural freedom and restriction alongside heavy restrictions on economic freedom. Social democrats oppose most private property rights.

Allies

Social democrats will ally themselves with other socialists, known as useful idiots, for as long as they derive utility from the association. Once their usefulness ends, social democrats will betray their allies, often with deadly force.

Enemies

Social democrats consider liberals and capitalists to be their enemies and seek to destroy them utterly for daring to end the tradition of collectivism that was practiced for most of human history. Social democrats will employ entryist strategies to infiltrate and subvert liberal and capitalist organisations so as to destroy them from within.

Location on the political spectrum

Social democracy is located at the centre centre-left of the political spectrum. It is bordered by international socialism, authoritarian socialism, progressivism, centrism, liberalism, libertarian socialism, democratic socialism, and Marxist socialism. As it is a mainstream ideology, social democracy occupies more space on the spectrum than fringe ideologies.