Provides an analysis of Social Democratic governments, examining the policies they have adopted and assessing the extent of similarity and convergence in policy-making among the different countries. Includes case studies.

1. Social Democracy in Europe: Renewal or Retreat? Martin Powell 2. Policy Changes of European Social Democrats, 1945-1998 Andrea Volkens 3. Models of Citizenship and Social Democratic Policies Dietmar Braun and Oliver Giraud 4. Social Policy in Belgium and the Netherlands: Third Way or Not? Renaat Hoop 5. The Portuguese Socialists and the Third Way Marina Costa Lobo and Pedro C. Magalhaes 6. Turning Ideas into Policies: Implementing Modern Social-Democratic Thinking in Germany's Pension Policy Martin Hering 7. The Social and Employment Policies of the Jospin Government Ben Clift 8. The Third Way in Welfare State Reform? Social Democratic Pension Politics in Germany and Sweden Karen Anderson and Traute Meyer 9. Why do Social Democratic Parties Change Employment Policy Positions? A Comparison of Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom Monika Feigl-Heihs 10. From 'Eurokeynesianism' to the 'Third Way'. The Party of European Socialists (PES) and European Employment Policies11. Social Democratic Party Policies in Europe: Towards a Third Way? Giuliano Bonoli

'A highly interesting and thorough account of the avenues Social Democratic governments have pursued in terms of social and economic policy and of what contemporary Social Democracy might mean in these fields.' - Simon Bornshier and Silja Hausermann, Swiss Political Science Review