Christian Democrat Internationalism

Internationalism is a key element for the Christian Democrat identity and movement of thought and action. It is based on a particular framework of ideas and beliefs that leads the party to interpret the relationship between men and nations from an international point of view, ensuring the human being a central place in every social policy.

From September 2011 to December 2013 the Luigi Sturzo Institute in Rome along with the Centre of European Studies planned a series of international scientific meetings to study one highly important political subject: the commitment of Christian Democrats on an international level. This project has been organised thanks to the support of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, and the International Labour Organisation. Internationalism is a Key Element for the Christian Democrat Identity. In fact, CD is a political movement of thought and action whose roots lie in a specific ideology: to use the German word Weltanschauung, it is based on a particular framework of ideas and beliefs that leads the party to interpret the relationship between men and nations from an international point of view, ensuring the human being a central place in every social policy. The Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, wrote in a Message to these Meetings: «We can consider ourselves very lucky that 50 years ago forward-thinking personalities founded the World Union of Christian Democrats. From then on, the world, through globalisation, has been deeply changed. Events that take place in other continents immediately impact on our lives. We will be able to protect ourselves from terrorism, achieve economic and social security, and defend our environment only through common global action. This is the task of our generation: to overcome these global challenges. [] Our parties and our political organisations share a common Christian ideal of man. This ideal, grounded on the inalienability of human dignity, is at the core of one important value: to this man has linked a social and economic model that combines economic success and social responsibility.» Her message clearly shows the need to use historical knowledge, to return to and explore a rich and challenging past as well as to develop a reflection on and a course of action for the present and the future.

Autorentext

Jean-Dominique Durand, Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Lyon (France), is a specialist in the History of contemporary Christianity.

Inhalt

Contents: Aurélien Zaragori: Union Experience through International Labour Organisation - Charles R. Gallagher, S.J.: Religion and International Labour. The Roman Catholic Church, the ILO and the Search for Social Justice - Liliosa Azara: The Holy See and the International Labour Organisation. The Origins of a Special Relationship - Carlo Felice Casula: International Labour Organisation, International Christian Unions and the Catholic Church. Research Tracks and Case Studies - Tiziana Di Maio: From the Female European Union to the European People's Party. The Women's Movement of the Christian Democrats in Christian Democrat Inter-Party Organisations - Dmitry Shmelev: Impossible Internationalism. Interrupted Experiences of Christian Democracy beyond the Iron Curtain - Bryan Palmer: My Experience in Christian Democrat Internationalism. A Testimony - Alfredo Canavero: In the Line of Catholic Internationalism. The Italian Christian Democracy (DC) to the Origins of the Formation of the International Christian Democracy - Jürgen Nielsen-Sikora: «We are the Guardians of Freedom!» Basic Ideas of the CDU's European Policy Prior to the First Direct Elections to the European Parliament - Emiel Lamberts: The Option of the Belgian and Dutch Christian Democrats for an Internationalism with Christian and Social Accents (1945-1979) - Laurent Ducerf: The MRP and the Other Christian Democrat Formations, between Hegemony and National Interests - Steven Van Hecke: The Fractious Foundation of the European People's Party - Francesco Malgeri: The Italian Presence in the Christian Democrat International. Aspects and Personalities - Michael Gehler: Adenauer's Ideas on Europe and Western European Integration Policy within the Context of Private and Political Networks - Godfried Kwanten: Mediators, Conciliators, Initiators. The Role of Christian Democrats of Some 'Centre' Countries in the Christian Democrat Internationalism - Jaroslaw Rabinski: Two Forms of Polish Christian Democracy: 1945-1979 under Communistic Regime and towards International Cooperation. Karol Popiel, Konstanty Turowski, Janusz Zablocki, Konrad Sieniewicz - Gianni La Bella: Latin America. Rafael Caldera, Eduardo Frei, Napoleon Duarte.