The Third Way diffusion of social democracy: Western Europe and South Africa compared

Abstract

The article argues that there are a great many parallels between the South African ANC (African National Congress) and the European Third Way social democrats, both in principle and in praxis. While there are obvious differences in terms of levels of economic activity, human and industrial development, the size and scope of the welfare state, in terms of the principles driving social and economic policy there is a great deal of overlap and compatibility. We suggest that the Third Way is a response to a rapidly changing international environment that has limited the ability of governments to affect social and economic policy, as well as an expression of the art of the possible given philosophical commitments to the principles of equality, liberty and solidarity under conditions of uncertainty.