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Is a democratic economy possible? Lessons from history, horizons for the future

Fifty years after powerful labour movements launched radical plans to democratise the economy and gain control of large businesses, what is the legacy of these efforts and what are the prospects for economic democracy today?
Fifty years after powerful labour movements launched radical plans to democratise the economy and gain control of large businesses, what is the legacy of these efforts and what are the prospects for economic democracy today?
Monday 30 March 2026 | 1 hour 31 minutes 20 seconds

Fifty years after powerful labour movements launched radical plans to democratise the economy and gain control of large businesses, what is the legacy of these efforts and what are the prospects for economic democracy today?

Join us on the anniversary of the "Meidner plan", a famous moment in the history of socialism when Swedish unions tried to take ownership of all large companies there. As a report for the Spanish government brings renewed attention to the possibilities for economic democracy, how can we learn from the ambitions and failures of projects like this? What should plans for economic democracy look like today? And what is the best way to pursue projects for economic democracy in practice?