Christian Democracy

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Template:Christian Democracy Christian Democracy is a heterogeneous political ideology. However, there is general agreement on certain issues. The proposed design of the Christian Democratic nation-state is federalistic and comparitively decentralized, yet having an unquestionable capacity at the national or federal level to address systemic problems. Christian Democracy sees the economy as being at the service of humanity; however, most Christian Democratic parties do not call capitalism itself into question. The duty of the state to care for its citizens is of real importance for Christian Democrats, but they generally oppose Christian socialism. In recent decades, some major Christian Democratic parties in Europe have shifted more towards a right-leaning policy of economic liberalism, based on reducing the role of the state in the economy. Meanwhile, Christian Democratic parties in Latin America are generally more inclined to support left-leaning economic views than their European counterparts.

On issues of public morality and tradition, Christian Democrats are usually conservative, and often therefore many Christian Democrats are opposed to abortion and same-sex marriage, although some Christian Democratic parties have accepted the legalization of abortion, within certain limits.

1 History of Christian Democracy
2 Christian Democracy around the world
3 Famous Christian Democrats
4 See also
5 External links

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History of Christian Democracy

Christian Democracy as a political movement was born at the end of the 19th century, largely as a result of the papal encyclical Rerum Novarum of Pope Leo XIII, in which the Vatican recognized workers' misery and agreed that something should be done about it, in reaction to the rise of the socialist and trade union movements. The position of the Roman Catholic Church on this matter was further clarified in a subsequent encyclical, Quadragesimo Anno, by Pope Pius XI in 1931. Christian Democracy has evolved considerably since then, and it is no longer a particularly Catholic ideology.

In Protestant countries Christian-Democratic parties were founded by more conservative protestants in reaction to the political power of liberal tendencies within the protestant churches. In the Netherlands, for instance, the Anti Revolutionary Party was founded by conservative protestant, in reaction to the control over political life of the liberals. The Swedish Christian Democratic Party, rooted in the Pentecostal religious tradition, has a similar history.

While Christian Democracy is of Roman Catholic origin, it has been adopted by many Protestant and Orthodox Christians as well. Some Christian Democratic parties, particularly in Europe, no longer emphasize religion and have become much more secular in recent years.

Christian Democracy can trace its philosophical roots back to Thomas Aquinas and his thoughts about Aristotelian ontology and the Christian tradition. According to him, human rights are defined as the things that humans need to function properly. For example, food is a human right because without food humans are not able to function properly. Modern authors important to the formation of Christian Democratic ideology include: Emmanuel Mounier, Étienne Gilson and Jacques Maritain.

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Christian Democracy around the world

The international organization of Christian Democratic parties, the Christian Democrat and People's Parties International, is the second largest international political organization in the world (second only to the Socialist International). European Christian Democratic parties have their own regional organization called the European People's Party, which forms the largest group in the European Parliament. However, not all Christian Democratic parties in Europe are members of it. Some, such as the Union for French Democracy, have joined a different group called the European Democratic Party, which takes a strongly Europhile stance.

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Christian Democracy in Europe

Christian Democracy has been especially important in Italy, inspired by Luigi Sturzo (see Democrazia Cristiana), Norway (see Christian Democratic Party of Norway), and Germany (see Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union). Major Christian Democratic influence can also be seen in the politics of Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Ireland, the Netherlands, France, and Slovenia.

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Christian Democracy in Latin America

Christian Democracy has been especially important in Chile (see Christian Democrat Party of Chile), and most recently in Mexico with the National Action Party of Vicente Fox.

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Christian Democracy in Asia

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The Philippines

In the Philippines, the influence of Christian Democracy as well as the roman catholic and protestant clergy is very evident especially in the People Power uprisings it has produced. The largely Roman Catholic country has elected two Christian Democratic presidents (Fidel V. Ramos, a Protestant, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a devout Catholic, both from the ruling Lakas-CMD party). Filipino Christian Democrats have always focussed on economic growth and development, stronger ties with the United States, creation of jobs, and strong cooperation between the executive and legislative branches of government. Christian Democrats in the country have been known for their advocacy of a shift from the present presidential system to a parliamentary form of government through constitutional amendments and through establishing peace talks with Muslim separatists and communist rebels.

What makes Filipino Christian Democracy distinct from others is its inclusion of Muslim leaders in its political alliance (see Lakas-Christian-Muslim Democrats Party). This proves that Christian Democracy can be (and typically is) "ecumenical" in its political agenda and goal of bringing justice, progress, peace and harmony in the world as envisioned in Pope Leo XIII's encyclical Graves de Communi Re (on Christian Democracy).

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Famous Christian Democrats

Konrad Adenauer, first chancellor of West Germany after World War II, and architect of the social market economy.
Adelino Amaro da Costa, portuguese politician, founder of Democratic Social Center (CDS) partie in 1974 and was portuguese Defence Minister.
Giulio Andreotti, long-time Prime Minister of Italy
Patricio Aylwin, Chilean politician that served as president when Chile returned to democracy after the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet
Vicente Fox, president of Mexico.
Eduardo Frei Montalva, Chilean politician and former president.
Alcide De Gasperi, Italian prime minister and pro-European leader.
Helmut Kohl, chancellor of West Germany and later the unified Germany.
Abraham Kuyper, founder of the Dutch Anti Revolutionary Party and prime minister of the Netherlands.
Angela Merkel, first female chancellor of Germany (since 2005).
Fidel V. Ramos, first Protestant president of the Philippines and founder and chair emeritus of the political party, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.
Robert Schuman, French politician who has served both as head of government and foreign minister. He was one of the founders of the European Union.
Franz Josef Strauß, minister-president of Bavaria (Germany).