Judt mounts a persuasive defence of social democracy, arguing that the postwar commitment to collective welfare and public purpose has been steadily eroded by decades of market driven individualism. He traces the consequences of this ideological shift: weakening institutions, rising inequality, and a fractured civic landscape. With historical clarity and moral urgency, Judt calls for renewed state engagement – not as paternalism, but as a democratic imperative – to restore fairness, social cohesion, and a shared sense of responsibility.