REVIEW: Christian Democracy

September-October 1997

The Christian Democrat International (Rowman & Littlefield, 1997) tells the story of the development of cooperation among Christian Democrats around the world, especially in Europe and Latin America where formal political parties by that name have been organized since early in this century.

The author, Roberto Papini, heads up the International Jacques Maritain Institute in Rome, one of the few centers of serious reflection on the practice of Christian democratic politics. Papini was a featured speaker at the 1991 Atlanta conference on Christianity and Democracy, co-hosted by the Center for Public Justice and Emory University's Law and Religion Program.

After a brief introduction to the emergence of Christian democratic politics in Europe, the author describes the beginnings of cooperation among different national parties. From the ashes of World War 11 the Nouvelles Equipes Internationales (NEI) was born, a largely West European union of Christian Democratic parties. Soon thereafter, the Christian Democrat Union of Central Europe (CDUCE) took shape. The CDUCE, interestingly, helped promote the development of Christian Democracy in Latin America.

In the early chapters of his book, Papini traces the history of international cooperation within Europe and then, in later chapters, turns to Latin America and the larger world scene. He concludes with reflections on the current crisis in Christian democratic thought and experience.

Right after World War II, Christian Democrats spent more time debating moral, social, and political philosophy than they did economic and social policy When their parties began to win control of governments, however, they had to face a multitude of practical questions that led them into a more pragmatic frame of mind. Today the critical question is whether there will remain a distinctive bond holding Christian Democrats together Will they become merely conservative, or simply moderate, or will they be able to forge a distinctive vision of democracy and international justice grounded in a Christian public philosophy? The answer to this question is in doubt, as Papini makes clear.

Papini's book summarizes an important history, one that is little known to North Americans who have had no experience with the worldwide movement of Christian Democracy. It can help shed light on our own struggle with different forms of Christian political engagement.