Der Spiegel on the demise of social democracy in Europe:

"Social democrats were once the protagonists in one of mankind's greatest stories. In Germany, they vowed to improve the lot of workers and lead mankind into a new era. They breathed life into German democracy and, by forming a coalition with the Green Party, eventually made their way into the Chancellery. The battles it fought took place in a young, optimistic society.

We no longer live that way. Like other European nations, Germany has become an older, post-heroic country. Most German fears relate to threats from outside: climate change, new wars, crises triggered by unpredictable dictators and refugees flooding into the country unchecked.

Such issues have not thus far been the domain of social democrats. Social democrat want to jointly pursue a better society. But they need to be able to explain what that means. If they manage to find that story, they could still be one of the most powerful stories in politics."

Read the article here.

As Der Spiegel point as well, part of the problem is dat most of the ideals of social democracy haven been incorporated by other parties.
What does it mean to be left in times of Merkel?

But history is filled with ironies. We may see the renaissance of social democracy in ten or fifteen years from now. Hopefully without too much destruction in between.