Social Democracy in the Global Periphery
Origins, Challenges, Prospects

Studies how and why socio-economic development combines with democracy in some capitalist developing countries.

Richard Sandbrook (Author), Marc Edelman (Author), Patrick Heller (Author), Judith Teichman (Author)

9780521867030, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 1 March 2007

300 pages, 3 tables
23.4 x 15.9 x 2.3 cm, 0.601 kg

'This book is rich in argument, and in evidence from four 'peripheral' social democratic regimes: Chile, Costa Rica, Mauritius and the Indian state of Kerala.' Political Studies Review

Social Democracy in the Global Periphery focuses on social-democratic regimes in the developing world that have, to varying degrees, reconciled the needs of achieving growth through globalized markets with extensions of political, social and economic rights. The authors show that opportunities exist to achieve significant social progress, despite a global economic order that favours core industrial countries. Their findings derive from a comparative analysis of four exemplary cases: Kerala (India), Costa Rica, Mauritius and Chile (since 1990). Though unusual, the social and political conditions from which these developing-world social democracies arose are not unique; indeed, pragmatic and proactive social-democratic movements helped create these favourable conditions. The four exemplars have preserved or even improved their social achievements since neoliberalism emerged hegemonic in the 1980s. This demonstrates that certain social-democratic policies and practices - guided by a democratic developmental state - can enhance a national economy's global competitiveness.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Social democracy in the periphery
2. Burdens of history
Part II. Case Studies: 3. Kerala: radical social democracy as democratic deepening
4. Costa Rica: resilience of a classic social democracy
5. Mauritius: evolution of a classic social democracy
6. Chile: the tumultuous path to the third way
Part III. Patterns and Prospects: 7. Social and political origins
8. Challenges of globalization
9. Prospects.

Subject Areas: Political structures: democracy [JPHV], Comparative politics [JPB], Politics & government [JP], Development studies [GTF]