Social democracy transformed politics in Canada and most other advanced economies in the 20th century, especially in the aftermath of the Great Depression and the Second World War.

Governments guided by this political philosophy delivered virtually full employment, rising wages and access to social programs and public services based upon citizenship rather than the market-based ability to pay. The result was much greater equality of both condition and opportunity, enhanced security for all, and broadly shared economic progress in a still market based economy.

Here in Canada, social programs that are at the core of our collective identity — medicare, the Canada Pension Plan, high quality public education at all levels — can trace their origins to the ideas of social democracy. These inspired the New Democratic Party but also influenced other political parties and social movements.

Social democracy can be defined as the full application of democratic and social justice principles, not simply to our political institutions, but also to our economy and society.

Social democrats believe in a market-based economy, but not in a market-shaped society. In addition to traditional liberal political rights, individuals have economic and social rights. These must be secured in part by taking some services such as health and education out of the market.

And genuine equality of opportunity requires a high level of substantive economic equality. This can only be achieved by redistributing wealth and income through taxation or by means of universal social programs, which are rights of citizenship.

Social democrats also support a strong government role in the economy to secure economic stability, full employment and decent, well-paid jobs and to counter concentrated corporate power. A more fair and efficient economy is built upon public regulation of the market, a diversity of forms of ownership, including public ownership, and worker representation on boards and other means of participating in economic decision-making through trade unions.

In the 1980s, the social democratic project came under attack by right-wing politicians. They challenged the priority of full employment, cut social programs and public services, attacked trade unions, and created greater insecurity and reliance on the market. The result has been a surge in inequality throughout the democratic world, an increase in precarious work and insecurity for working families, increasing racial inequalities, and diminishing economic prospects for younger generations.

Since the time of Reagan and Thatcher in the 1980s, the movement has had to respond not just to the rise of the free market right and its major threat to our historical achievements, but also to the greatly increased diversity of the workforce, rapid globalization and technological change, and the emergence of new social movements championing environmental progress and the rights of women, racialized minorities and indigenous peoples.

Most recently, a number of democratic countries have turned to the populist right and its false promises to turn back the clock and return to ethnically homogenous and economically self reliant nation states. Along with other established parties, social democratic parties lost the confidence of voters to provide an alternative economic and social agenda — even though its thinkers have continued to provide many viable alternatives to a global economic and social order, which fails to protect both the environment and workers rights.

Celebrating past successes is clearly not enough. In a very real sense, social democracy will have to be fundamentally renewed if it is to regain momentum and be fully relevant to today’s challenges. This means, among other things, rebuilding social democracy as a social movement closely linked to other progressive forces in society; articulating an economic agenda that will regulate rather than abandon a globalized economy; and finding effective policy levers to create decent jobs for all, to promote greater equality, and to build an environmentally sustainable economy.

The Broadbent Institute is launching its Change the Game project — a critical look at the future of social democracy, beginning with a major discussion paper on historical achievements and current challenges. We hope to publish many reflections on values, goals and policy priorities for the future, in the hope this will influence the ideas of progressive politicians, political activists and social movements.

These ideas will be debated and discussed at our upcoming Progress Summit to be held in Ottawa on April 5-7 and other forums across the country to be announced over the coming months.

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While needing renewal in application, I am confident the core principles of social democracy are as relevant today as they have ever been.