Three conclusions do not follow from the arguments developed in this book. These arguments do not lead to a rejection of social democracy. They do not assert that reforms are impossible. They do not imply that workers would never opt for socialism. And, since popular wisdom teaches that pessimism is but informed optimism, I do not even consider my views pessimistic, only informed.

This clarification seems necessary because such conclusions tend to be attributed to the analyses developed above by writers who are more sanguine than I am about the transformative potential of the European Left, particularly the Swedish Social Democracy. In fact, I think that social democrats have done about as well as they could have under historical circumstances not of their choosing and I am quite sympathetic to their unenviable predicaments. I only doubt that they would lead their societies to socialism. I am sure that reforms are possible, but that does not mean that reformism is a viable strategy of transition to socialism. I do not know under what conditions workers and other people would prefer socialism over capitalism, but I think I have demonstrated that they are unlikely to opt for socialism in an exclusive pursuit of their economic interests. And since I see the combination of capitalism with political democracy as a form of society that is highly conducive to the pursuit of immediate economic interests, I am skeptical about the possibilities of bringing about socialism by a deliberate action of trade-unions, political parties, or governments.