The focal point for this study is the emergent 'new social democracy' of the twenty-first century. Moshonas examines the transformations of recent years - a process of 'de-social-democratisation', affecting every aspect of the social democratic phenomenon.

Focuses on the logic and dynamics of a major mutation in European politics.

“This excellent book maps out the profound doubts about social democratic identity at a time when the parties in question appear resigned to choosing between different forms of inequality. Always perceptive in its criticisms, it has a genuine non-polemical feel about the current predicament of the European Left. A lively, energetic and intelligent analysis.”—Donald Sassoon

“One of the most outstanding recent works on social democracy. Moschonas analyses with extreme accuracy the ‘great transformation’ of this major political force through its multiple dimensions.”—Gérard Grunberg