Time of crisis for social democracy: How Europe defends its values!

Time of crisis for social democracy: How Europe defends its values!

Social democracy in Europe is facing profound challenges, as recent events and debates show. On February 5, 2025, an important debate took place as part of the General Studies at Bucerius Law School, in which prominent experts took part. The participants made it clear that the social democrats are under pressure. The challenges include not only loss of votes, but also populist competition from both the right and the left of politics as well as far-reaching social changes. The goal? A development towards a new, sustainable profile of the social democratic parties in Europe.

The event was moderated by Vivien Leue, a journalist who works for Deutschlandfunk, among others. The discussants included Pauline Fröhlich, the deputy managing director of the think tank Das Progressive Zentrum, and Prof. Dr. Tarik Abou-Chadi, political scientist at Oxford University. Also Dr. Linus Westheuser, a researcher at Humboldt University Berlin and co-author of the book “Trigger Points,” was present. This round offered a deep insight into the current crises within social democracy.

Challenges for democracy

The crisis situation is not isolated. According to CORDIS findings, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on democratic societies. In addition to the global health crisis, the reliability of information and the stability of democratic institutions are also at stake. Populist movements and anti-European sentiments have increased significantly in a turbulent decade, which is shaping the political discourse in Europe.

Recently there has been an increase in protests over issues such as racism and economic inequality. The ongoing effects of the 2008 financial crisis are also contributing to the economic distress. These austerity measures led not only to an economic but also to a social crisis, which further undermined trust in state institutions. The migration crisis of 2015 further increased discontent over fairness and cultural integration.

Technological and social changes

Another factor challenging democracy in Europe is technological change, particularly through social media. These have not only changed the way citizens participate in democracy, but have also contributed to the spread of disinformation and fake news, undermining the foundations of liberal democracy. The expansion of the digital infrastructure was deemed necessary to address these challenges.

The COVID-19 crisis brought restrictions on freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and demonstration, and delays in electoral processes. But there are also bright spots: the vaccination programs offer a glimpse of a return to normality, while the EU recovery package aims to promote a green and digital transition. These measures could be seen as steps towards revitalizing European democracy and its core values.

Nevertheless, it is clear that there are no easy solutions in sight to the challenges facing European democracy. The responses to the economic and social emergencies exacerbated by the pandemic will largely determine the course of liberal democracy in the 21st century. The Conference on the Future of Europe will provide citizens with a voice to give feedback on EU actions. Research projects supported by the EU programs Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe address topics such as economic insecurity, cultural and social integration, and radicalization in Europe.

In summary, social democracy in Europe is operating at a time of profound changes and challenges. The findings from the discussion event and the ongoing research illustrate that a realignment is necessary in order to defend the basic values ​​of democracy and steer us towards a positive future. Proactively addressing these issues will be crucial to strengthening democracy in Europe.