The continued decline of Dutch social democracy

This chapter discusses the dramatic developments of the Dutch Labour Party in view of its course after 1990. It covers general explanations in combination with specific elements of Dutch politics. The Dutch case is seen as a deviant case as it has been characterized by its “politics of accommodation” in a pillarized society, making the Dutch Labour Party (Partij van de Arbeid) follow its own course in terms of vote and office seeking behavior. From the 1990s onwards. the PvdA responded to changes in Dutch politics and the economy by moving to the “radical centre” to cope with challenges from the emerging populist parties and new parties. In fact, it lost touch with its traditional constituency and the precariat. Hence, both structural reasons as well as specific developments have played their role in the decline. Generally speaking, the responses to new challenges have been ineffective and ambiguous, explaining the dire straits of Dutch Social Democracy of late.