Christian Democracy (Italy)

Christian Democracy, (Democrazia Cristiana), the Christian democratic party of Italy, commonly called the democristiani or "DC", dominated government for nearly half a century until its demise amid a welter of corruption allegations in 1992-94.

Ideology

The party's ideological sources are principally to be found in democratic and social Catholic doctrines of the 19th century (see Christian democracy), developed in France by Buchez, Lamennais and Le Play, and in Italy by Giuseppe Toniolo and Romolo Murri; in addition, the movement gained limited elements from liberal and social-democratic influences.

Related Topics:
Christian democracy - France - Buchez - Lamennais - Le Play - Italy - Giuseppe Toniolo - Romolo Murri

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Of particular influence were the two Papal encyclicals Rerum novarum (1891) of Pope Leo XIII, and Quadragesimo anno (1931) of Pope Pius XI, which were offered a basis for social and political doctrine; in economy, DC opposed the concept of cooperation to competition, and rejected Marxism's idea of conflict among social classes.

Related Topics:
Papal - Encyclical - Rerum novarum - 1891 - Pope Leo XIII - Quadragesimo anno - 1931 - Pope Pius XI - Economy - Cooperation - Competition - Marxism - Conflict among social classes

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The so-called "leftist wing" of DC, born with Dossetti, Giorgio La Pira, and Lazzati (represented by the magazine Cronache Sociali) advocated dialogue with leftist parties and gave birth to the concept of center-left, proposing governments with minority socialist participation.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~