Social democracy in Europe today [antikvár]

PREFACE Social democratic and socialist parties are the one of the most influential group of parties in Western Europe. In the entire period after the World War II they have played a significant role in the political hfe, whether as ruling or most powerful opposition parties, thus being in position to bear upon social, economic and political development and formulate and implement foreign policy in their countries. Bearing that in mind it is understandable that great interest has been shown in the doctrine, conception, poUcy and experiences of the contemporary Social Democracy. Such interest has grown lately in view of the crisis, reexamination and search for new forms of social transformation all over the world and particularly in Central and East European countries after the collapse of the model of "real socialism". In these countries those pohtical forces who take their inspiration from the experiences of the contemporary Social Democracy are on the increase. On the political scene there are more and more newly formed or transformed politiced parties and groups which consider themselves as a part of contemporary Social Democracy. There are more than dozen such parties in FR Yugoslavia. It is Important to notice that after the defeat at the first elections after the fall of the Berlin wall, in many of the Central and East European countries the electorate has turned recently to those left oriented parties - social democratic and socialist parties are in power in Bulgeiria, Romania. Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, FR Yugoslavia. Bearing in mind the significance of the contemporary Social Democracy at present, the Institute of International Politics and Economics and Frledrich Ebert Stiftung from Germany, organized the International Round Table on the following topic "Social Democracy in Europe Today". The Round Table took place in Belgrade on 21 and 22 May 1996. Twenty five domestic and thirteen foreign researchers, prominent experts on Social Democracy from Germany, Great Briteiin, Italy, Poland, Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Bulgaria participated in the conference. We Invited, adso, representatives of socialist and social democratic parties and trade unions from Serbia and Montenegro. This is the second Internationiil