Social Democracy, often clipped to SocDem (or SuccDem by ideologies that disagree or despise it), is an economically centre-left ideology. It is usually
culturally left, albeit not exclusively. It advocates for
strong welfare programs, unionization, with the addition of vast
regulation. It is often confused with
Democratic Socialism, or sometimes socialism in general. Despite often being called a "socialist" by right-wing ideologies, Social Democracy is often excluded from
leftist circles as well due to their support for reforming
capitalism rather than abolishing it. Social Democracy finds that a lot of welfare programs and business regulations, when achieved through
reform rather than revolution, can lead to higher prosperity for the proletariat, rather than systems of
unregulated capitalism or
socialism.
History
Historically, Social Democracy was used interchangeably with Democratic Socialism, which has seen a revival in the
United States since
Bernie Sanders' rise in popularity. After World War 2, Social Democracy becomes its own identity and promoted a strong welfare state under a
capitalist economy. Social Democracies have been established in Europe and other types of the world as follows:
India since the establishment of the DPSP, the
Republic of France during the 1930's before
German Occupation,
Australia ever since WWII,
Sri Lanka since the early 1940's,
the French Republic after the fall of nazi France,
Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.
Germany 
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Sweden 
Main Article:Nordic Model
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Norway 
Main Article:Nordic Model
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Denmark 
Main Article:Nordic Model
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Finland 
Main Article:Nordic Model
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Iceland 
Main Article:Nordic Model
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Russia 
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France 
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Portugal
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Spain
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UK 
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Canada
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The United States 

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Mexico 
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Guatemala
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Brazil 

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Chile
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Venezuela
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Argentina 
Main Article:Peronism
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Turkey 
Main Article:Kemalism
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Israel 
Main Article:Labour Zionism
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Iran 
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South Korea
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Japan
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Thailand
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Malaysia
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Australia
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New Zealand
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Beliefs and Views
Social Democracy is a center-left ideology that believes in a mixed economy with a
welfare state funded by progressive taxation. They believe in re-distributing wealth via taxes to make
capitalism more humane.
They subscribe to the Liberal interpretation of human rights. That being the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Social Democrats alter the
Liberal interpretation of 'human rights' to include equality, justice, and solidarity.
To make it simpler, here are the 3 principles of Social Democracy.
Freedom
Social Democracy believes in a liberal democratic framework, Liberal democracy is a form of system operating under the civic principles of
classical liberalism. But however, Social Democratic economics are somewhat different from classical liberalism.
In order to preserve Liberalism, negative rights and positive rights must be balanced. Positive rights such as right to health and right to an adequate standard of living are respected. Negative rights like freedom of speech and property rights are strengthened.
Equality
This is mainly connects to Social Democracy's beliefs and views in Social Justice, Social Equality, taxation, and welfare.
Social Democracies tend to support a universalist welfare. Instead of only subsidizing private services or giving them to the needy, the provisions are available for everyone. The supported policies are universal childcare, care for the elderly, education, healthcare and workers' compensation.
Justice
Mainly connects to Enlightenment
ideals of equality under the law and human rights.
Personality
Social Democracy is generally portrayed as being quite care-taking of other people, even if they may not like it. They are occasionally mistaken for Democratic Socialism. He usually doesn't like this if he's in
Europe, but if he's in
America, he'll proudly call himself a democratic socialist. He will get very mad at
Left Communism and
Marxism–Leninism whenever they call him a "Social Fascist".
How to Draw

Drawing Social Democracy requires a few steps:
- Draw a ball.
- Color the ball with red.
- Draw a white rose on the bottom of the ball.
- Add the eyes, and you're done!
Color Name | HEX | RGB | |
---|---|---|---|
Red | #FF0000 | 255, 0, 0 | |
White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 |
Relationships
Friends
Liberal Socialism - You're like my bro Democratic Socialism, almost the same actually.
Nordic Model - I made you.
Keynesianism - We make the government spend... together.
Left-Wing Populism - We work great during elections, and we both care about the common people.
Social Libertarianism - Even though you are a bit libertarian you are still my beloved son.
Regulationism - Time to tax and regulate those big business!!
Iron Front - Down with
Communism! Down with
Fascism! Down with
Monarchism!
Third Way - I'll still vote for you son, but I wish you would stop trying to compromise with
him. Otherwise you are great.
Progressivism - Generally we go hand in hand, although some of my derivatives would beg to differ.
Social Liberalism - A great friend of mine who is basically me but with more market based solutions. We often form coalition governments.
Social Capitalism - Same as above but less regulationist.
Libertarian Social Democracy - My left libertarian buddy. Basically me but with more of an emphases on civil liberties.
Market Socialism - Good friend who likes worker co-ops.
Democratic Socialism
- We're not quite the same, but I don't mind your company. After all, we're brothers, and our goals mostly align.
Frenemies
Social Georgism - I mean, sure, it sounds fair, but what about all the middle class homeowner votes!?
Paternalistic Conservatism - We often fight in elections, but he's still my child. (And a worthy opponent!)
Welfare Chauvinism - My racist son, on the rise. WHY! Also, being an unironic "Social Fascist" gives tankies propaganda material.
Left-Wing Nationalism - Sometimes works with me, sometimes against me.
Kemalism - We have no problem other than closing the unions and preventing the Labor Day and changing the name of the holiday to "Spring Holiday", my welfarist brother!
Social Authoritarianism - You have good ideas, but please calm down with your methods.
Longism - Same as above.
Please come back to us Huey.Social Corporatism - Sure, capitalism is flawed, but that does not mean we need to go full 3rd position.
Titoism - Too authoritarian for my liking, but at least you don't call me a "Social Fascist" unlike your brothers.
Syndicalism - I'm pro-union and all, but I'm not a fan of this whole socialism thing.
Capitalism - Good system. Just needs some more regulation
Socialism - You're my father and we have a lot in common, but I don’t think your ideology can work. Nonetheless, I’m sympathetic with most of your views.
Marxism - We agree on many of the same issues with capitalism, but I do not necessarily agree with your solutions. Also electoralism is good.
Bernsteinism - I don't hate you dad, but try to tone it down a bit with all that Marxism stuff.
Bismarckism - While I appreciate you a lot for installing the first welfare state, I'm still pretty pissed with how much you tried to suppress my movement.
Libertarian Socialism - Calm down! Socialism isn't a good way to follow!
Democratic Confederalism - Some of my parties in the past were somewhat sympathetic to you, but why do you call us a failed attempt to reform capitalism? We both like the HDP at least.
Enemies
Libertarian Marxism - Stop Spamming that Marx quote against me! I do not have a "Servile belief in the state!"
Mediacracy - Stop with all the anti-Bernie propaganda dammit!
Neoliberalism - Everything I had built up to this point, you just had to destroy it. Fuck you!
Still don't know why we decided to have thatkid together..
Libertarianism - Just because I like Bernie Sanders doesn't mean I'm a communist!
Luxemburgism - Cope harder commie, you attempted to overthrow a democratic government and failed miserably HA HA HA!
Marxism–Leninism - The "Social Fascist" is
Welfare Chauvinism, not me! Also, you scumbug, worked with
him to sabotage me![Note 1][2]
National Socialism - YOU DESTROYED THE DEMOCRACY I BUILT AND COMMITTED GENOCIDE AGAINST AT LEAST 6 MILLION PEOPLE! GET DESTROYED BY THE ALLIES, YOU DIRTY NAZI!
Left Communism - You claim to love the working class, but all you do is sit on an armchair reading political literature all day, without contributing to society you lazy prick!
Dengism - Planned economy and welfareless capitalism - two of the worst things in one.
Anarcho-Capitalism - Healthcare is a human right!
Fascism - I don't care if we agree on economics. Leave me alone fascist pig!
Paleoconservatism - You are suspiciously similar to the guy above you know...
Juche - Stop using my name for propaganda you totalitarian scumbag!
Pinochetism - STOP CALLING ME
AN UPELIENTO!
Pink Capitalism - We could have been friends but you just had to cause economies to collapse.
Objectivism - You hate the poor so stay away from me.
Salazarism - I only overthrew you to give people true freedom.
Corporatocracy - That's why I hate Laissez-Faire and I care about small business, you also caused the concentration of much of the world's wealth to go to 1% of the population.
Authoritarian Capitalism - Authoritarianism and unregulated capitalism. What a nightmare.
Further Information
For overlapping political theory see:













Literature
- A Theory of Justice by John Rawls
- Time for Socialism by Thomas Piketty
- Overproduction and Crises by Johann Karl Rodbertus
- Foundations of Social Democracy by Tombias Gambert
- The Working Man's Programme by Ferdinand Lassalle
- Social Democracy After the Cold War by Bryan Evans and Ingo Schmidt
- Basics on Social Democracy by Thomas Kastning
- SockDem's #1 Economic Fact Sheet™
Parties
Wikipedia
Videos
- What is Social Democracy? (with playlist) by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
- Social Democracy vs. Social Liberalism Explained by Liberaven
- Democratic Socialism Vs. Social Democracy by Secular Talk
- How Denmark Invented Social Democracy by Kraut
Online Communities
Discussion
Memes and Humor
Political Parties
Politicians
Notes
- ↑ Ernst Thälmann and the Communist Party of Germany targeted Social Democrat politicians instead, because they thought Nazis coming to power would accelerate the collapse of capitalism, which at the time seemed preferable to the slow and reformist nature of moderate Marxists in the SDP
Citations
Gallery
Credit: u/u/AYYYYYYY1W, Source
Credit: u/duy_physics, Source
Credit: u/oRange_PCB, Source
u/TrixoftheTrade Source
u/Kirbly11 Source