Political view
Social democracy
Keeps a market economy but adds strong public services, unions and progressive taxes to reduce inequality.
Associated with: Nordic welfare states, Willy Brandt, Olof Palme.
Social democracy sits in the left-libertarian part of the Caucus economy and liberty compass: leaning state-led and slightly libertarian. The clearest positions are leaning state-led on economy, leaning institutional on institutions and leaning progressive on culture.
Where social democracy sits on eight dimensions
This is a broad family of ideas, so real people and parties who hold it differ from the profile below. The dot shows the typical tendency.
💰EconomyLeaning state-led
State-ledFree market
⚖️Liberty and authoritySlightly libertarian
LibertarianAuthoritarian
🎭CultureLeaning progressive
ProgressiveTraditional
🌍NationLeaning globalist
GlobalistNationalist
🌱EnvironmentLeaning nature-first
Growth-firstNature-first
🤖TechnologyLeaning tech-optimist
Tech-cautiousTech-optimist
🕊️War and peaceLeaning peace-first
Peace-firstStrength-first
🏛️InstitutionsLeaning institutional
Anti-establishmentInstitutional
Leaders in office today who fit
Leaders from history who fit
Similar political views
EurocommunismA communism that accepts elections and pluralism, breaking with Soviet orthodoxy in the…86%Market socialismCombines worker or public ownership of firms with markets and competition.85%FabianismPursues socialism gradually through research, education and reform rather than revolution.85%Social liberalismDefends individual rights and open societies while backing public services and equal…84%GeorgismTaxes land and natural resources instead of labor, arguing that the value of land…80%
Views are simplified profiles built from public writings and records, and they are open to debate. Percentages show how close two profiles are across all eight dimensions.