The next year may be pivotal for the future of social-democratic parties. Brexit could result in an early election and a Corbyn government. Corbyn and his agenda have captured the imagination of the Left, and not just in Britain. Even those not on the left wing of Labour have recognized that Corbyn’s critics within his own party struggle to outline an alternative agenda. However, to assume there is no clear alternative would be naive.

While some are enamored with Jacinda Ardern’s New Zealand Labour Party, its counterpart across the Tasman Sea may prove far more attractive to Corbyn’s critics. A member of the G20, with a population of twenty-five million, Australia will likely become the most populated Western country governed by a social-democratic party if Labor wins in federal elections due before mid-2019 (and if the Spanish PSOE fails to hold on to power).

The churn of three different prime ministers from the conservative Liberal-National Coalition has greatly aided Australian Labor and put it in a prime position. This is despite the unpopularity of party leader Bill Shorten and general disillusionment with politics stemming from Labor’s own revolving door for prime ministers. Electoral success, and the yearning for a viable alternative to Corbynism, will encourage those on the right wing of social-democratic parties elsewhere to look to Australian Labor.