Social progress in the 21st century
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Date(s)
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31 March 2011 to 01 April 2011
Policy Network, in partnership with the Wiardi Beckman Stifting and the Foundation for Progressive European Studies (FEPS), has held a high-level seminar on "Social Progress in the 21st Century".
The event took place on 31st March – 1st April 201 and
brought together senior politicians, policymakers and academics from
across Europe. It formed a contribution to the Amsterdam Process and Next Left
research programmes. The main purpose was to pave the way for a new
research agenda on welfare models, critically examining new approaches
to social investment, labour market reform and generational
inequality.
Ed Miliband discussion
UK Labour leader Ed Miliband joined the programme on Friday 1 April to talk about Labour’s economic plan and political outlook.
Chair: Steve Richards, chief political commentator for The Independent.
Event background
Social pessimism across Europe is on the rise, particularly among the
larger and more established EU member states. After an era defined by
social progress and rising social mobility, there now appears to be a
growing perception that things will only get worse for future
generations. This sense of social anxiety does not bode well for
European social democracy. On the one hand it does not sit comfortably
with core centre-left messages of progress and positive social change;
and, on the other hand, it may be reflective of the electorates’ fading
confidence in social democratic parties’ ability to improve peoples’
lives. How then should we understand these new levels of social
pessimism and what are the implications for our social models, societal
vision and the direction of welfare reform?
The Amsterdam Process
The Amsterdam Process is an ambitious process of reflection and
strategic thinking initated by Policy Network, the international
center-left thinktank based in London, and the Wiardi Beckman Stichting,
the thinktank for Dutch social democracy. Past events: