This book investigates the underlying structural and political mechanisms driving the shift of European social democratic parties toward a more integrated European policy framework. David J. Bailey utilizes a critical realist methodology to move beyond traditional institutionalist accounts, arguing that the 'new' social democratic turn is not merely a reaction to globalization but a complex strategic adaptation. By synthesizing political economy with social theory, the author provides a framework for understanding how party elites navigate the constraints of the European Union while attempting to maintain ideological coherence.

Scholars in the field of European politics recognize this work as a rigorous application of critical realism to contemporary political economy. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a specialized resource for researchers focusing on party politics and European integration.