Making social democrats

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Amidst 'Brexit', a divided and out of power Labour Party, and the wider international rise of populism, contemporary British social democracy appears in a state of crisis. This book, a collection of essays by some of Britain's leading academics, public intellectuals and political practitioners, seeks to engage with the 'big picture' of British social democracy, both historical and contemporary, and point to grounds for greater optimism for its future prospects. It does so in honour of the renowned centre-left thinker David Marquand. Drawing on many of the themes which have preoccupied Marquand in his career and his writing, such as social democratic citizenship, values and participation, the volume offers the original perspective that social democracy is as much about cultures and mindsets as it is about economic policy or public institutions. This points to the importance of education, democratisation, and relationships as under-valued tools in social democracy, which must raise horizons as much as pay packets. It also suggests the need for social democrats to re-visit their relationship with 'the people', both so as to be better in tune with their aspirations, and to be able to forge a more lofty and optimistic agenda which challenges both the government and the governed to raise their sights.