INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS In Search of a New Political Narrative for a Solidarity-based Society in Europe Ten Key Questions about the Future of Social Democracy in Europe ERNST HILLEBRAND AND GERO MAASS October 2011 „ „ Even though we are now in the third year of the financial crisis, Europe’s Social Dem­ocratic parties still find themselves on the defensive in terms of both political power and ideas. They have benefited little from the crisis of financial capitalism and from people’s continuing attachment to the notion of the welfare state in Europe. „ „ For all their diversity, similar questions about the future are arising in all Social Dem­ocratic parties that need to be answered in the course of formulating a new politi­cal narrative. Social Democratic parties in Europe are being called on to re-establish themselves in their national contexts and to find a common thread in their policy on Europe, without neglecting specific national considerations. „ „ The present paper formulates ten questions for European Social Democracy. They range from the future of Europe through the contemporary interpretation of soli­darity to the strengthening of citizens’ democratic participation, freedom and self­determination.