Special Reports for "Area Studies > European" A New Age for Europe's Left? Britain, France, Germany, and Italy are all now governed by parties of the left. Yet each owes more to the conservative ascendancy they are replacing than to the socialism of the past. Introduction Now that four of western Europe's largest countries have left- of-center governments, has a New Age for the European Left arrived? Consider: ... Britain: How New? How Labour? New Labour seems to be a subtle mix of Thatcherism, compassion, and concealed taxes. ... Germany: New Center vs. Old Left Chancellor Schršder is working hard to balance the often conflicting demands of his center-left coalition. ...