Podemos revived social democracy instead of displacing it

Evidence

The old parties’ entrenchment within the state, their frail yet privileged bonds with civil society, their monopoly in the rural areas, and their greater capacity for renewal—drawn from a considerable pool of human resources—enabled them to bend without ever breaking. The left–right axis persisted. Contrary to appearances, Spanish social democracy did not vacate its space and showed remarkable resilience in the medium term. The rise of a challenger forced it to draw on its innermost resources to maintain its position at the top of left politics in Spain. The results were ironic, certainly when seen from afar. Rather than killing off the Socialist Party and taking its place, Podemos indirectly lifted the ailing ruler back onto his throne. Podemos’s historical function has in fact consisted in reviving and rejuvenating social democracy. — Arthur Borriello and Anton Jäger, The Populist Moment, 309

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Populism is social democracy in times of group disorganization — Arthur Borriello and Anton Jäger, The Populist Moment: The Left After the…, 297; Podemos aimed beyond niche entry to displace social democracy wholly — Arthur Borriello and Anton Jäger, The Populist Moment: The Left After the…, 305; A left-populist’s trajectory depends on the fate of its social democratic rival — Arthur Borriello and Anton Jäger, The Populist Moment: The Left After the…, 299 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Social democracy chose containment over transformation of capitalism’s crisis. #complicates (0.80)
• Deindustrialization shattered social democracy’s class coalition #qualifies (0.75) — Arthur Borriello and Anton Jäger, The Populist Moment, 79