Hoorcollege 4: Christian Democracy Flashcards
Origins CD
Late 19th century. Came out of society, mass movement. Secularisation, more people voting, industrialisation.
How did CD parties emerge
Liberals begin to move against the church and its role in politics. Due to this catholics organise politically . The idea was to mobilise but then drop out of politics because it is dirty. Catholic movements gained their independence from the church through their transformation into parties, which was initially resisted but could not be upheld due to the power and legitimacy that came with it. The initial opposition to democracy faded when they realised that it would provide them with social and political power.
Two implications of process of emerging CD parties
- It turned religion into a core element of confessional parties, but it was more of a hindrance than an advantage.
- The religious appeal made it so the parties turned into heterogeneous coalitions of interest groups which were only united due to the fact that they were religious. This increased the prominence of class within these parties, but it also contributed to the prominence of class in their party systems.
Why was the church resisting against emergence CD parties
The church opposed confessional parties due to fear of it breaking their unity and the hierarchy they imposed on the different branches of Christianity. The conservatives feared that politicisation of religion and association with the church would restrict their autonomy.
Two factors of the CD phenomenon
- The ability of CD parties to accommodate heterogeneous groups and sectors, which gave them a catch-all profile.
- The ability to both retain and tone down their religious identity, which was an essential feature in their formation.
Elements of CD
- Commitment to elementary human rights
- Liberal democratic values
- Class/transnational reconciliation
From this came key concepts that made CD distinctive: - Integration
- Compromise
- Accommodation
- Pluralism
Class within CD parties
The heterogeneity of CD can be explained through the ideological appeal that emphasised religion at the expense of class. However, eventually class also came about within CD, which caused conflicts and mediation was needed between these different interest groups. As a result, CD parties have shown to be skilled in managing the politics of mediation, which by opponents is seen as opportunism. Lastly, the ability to accommodate different class interests within the party made it so they had a bigger capacity to successfully appeal to different classes and sectors.
Why and how were prewar CD parties both secular and Christian?
Prewar confessional parties avoiding institutional and ideological association with the church and the church moving away from politics to protect their identity posed a problem, as the confessional character of these parties could not be lost as it was what kept their heterogeneous social base together. This was solved by redefining religion into a vague and moral concept, which allowed them to be both Christian and secular.
The paradox of CD parties
Either contemporary CD parties’ religious profile is meaningless, which means they have to explain the commitment to the label, or they are consequential, but this would undermine these parties’ electoral appeal.
Why can CD parties be considered catch-all
- The prominence of religion as a political mobiliser has decreased
- CD parties foster an ideology that goes above cleavage-based politics, and its main goal is the mediation of cleavage-based conflicts.
The future of CD parties
Depends on the importance of religion for the cultural and political attitudes of citizens. Either it continues to do so, which means the structure of religious parties is advantageous, or it declines further.
CD principles
- Christian principles, though secularised (still separation of state and church), not an attempt to make a christian state. Social elements like education and marriage shouldn’t be too secularised.
- Role of the state: state shouldn’t be in the realm of the church too much/civil society (private life), should be left to the community. Principle of subsidiarity: state should only intervene in competences/policy terrain that pertains to the state as a whole. Half private/half nationalised institutions.
- Oppossed to class conflict. They acknowledge there are classes and don’t want to get rid of this, but have them live harmoniously.
- CD were more sceptical about the market economy, they believed in it, but they they believed it should be controlled. There should be a social market.
- CD had idea of the person, person has a soul and intrinsic qualities that make him a person. It’s not an individual, because they are part of the church/community.
- What CD did is that they brought these different elements together through mobilisation. They were well organised from top to bottom. Even though they might not be doing well, they have a very strong structure. This was to gain power, but also to organise society. t
CD and politics of mediation
They seek to accommodate various groups in society within their own party. CD parties have their own unions, mobilise workers. Organisations for businesses. Organisations for farmers. Party itself is mediator between these different interests. Done in part through the welfare state.
Similarities between CD and conservatism
- Family values
- Hierarchy
- Community
Differences between CD and conservatism
- Organisation
- Centrist location
- More sceptical of market economy
- Support for broader segments of society
