Christian Democracy means different things to different
people. For some the movement is (as it is democratic) grounded within the
liberal tradition. For others it represents a hybrid between traditionalist
societal models and modern liberalism – a compromise of sorts.
And yet Orban in evoking Christian Democracy is arguing for
the Right-wing version of it – if he is genuinely interested in Christian
Democracy at all. Sceptics might argue that he and his ally Matteo Salvini are
anti-liberals and soft-authoritarians at best.
Or to frame it differently, they are content to tolerate a
considerable amount of democracy as long as it's within a specific social
consensus – which for them (broadly speaking) is European Christendom. This
represents a spectrum as many would consider a great deal of the Enlightenment
heritage as part of the 'Christendom' spectrum and in some cases such views
would potentially embrace some social values that the American Right would
consider to be left-leaning.
Catholic social teaching which is usually associated with
Christian Democracy is viewed as centre-right in most contexts but often drifts
toward centre-left in terms of governance. There are Protestant versions of
this teaching, some of the ideas of Abraham Kuyper are often included in the
equation. These 19th century constructs by both Protestants like
Kuyper and the Catholic Magisterium represent the attempts by conservatives and
traditionalists to formulate a new social model in light of the radical
political change that had taken place during the previous century – in the
aftermath of the French Revolution. They realised there was no 'going back' and
so rather than let people be carried away by socialism and some of the other
unattractive alternatives. Christian social teaching would ratify democracy,
the concerns of the working class and acknowledge and address the new realities
of the Industrial Age and urban life but at the same time it placed
restrictions on human autonomy and attempted to create a system that was
principled and exempt from the dangers of libertinism and mob rule.
Figures like Orban and Salvini want the consensus to rule
even in the face of democracy. Thus the consensus may in fact not be a
consensus at all but an authoritarian Magisterium or some kind of custodial
body that makes the 'big' decisions while a form of lower-order democracy might
still exist in terms of deciding practicalities but is not able to touch on the
principles or seek referenda on the system itself. It is essentially a custodial
democracy which of course (to many) would be something less than a true
democracy.
This gets tricky as a nation like the United States is a
representative democracy that is ostensibly ruled by law, by the Constitution.
The Constitution is limited in its powers over the states, can be amended, and
gives wide berth in some areas – to both exercised authority on the part of the
executive and in the wishes of the voting public. Additionally with judicial
review, laws can be struck down – a process in which some judges (depending on
their understanding of law) will take public sentiment and values into
consideration.
The United States is (at least on paper) a republic, a nation
of ideals expressed in laws. Adherence to those ideals is at the heart of what
makes one an American. There are other cultural considerations such as
religious toleration, the English language and other social markers which fall (legal
or not) within a broad consensus.
And yet there are many within the United States that ground
American identity on a tribal basis – race, culture (and thus language) and a
certain cultural heritage rooted (at least in part) within a broad Christian and
European spectrum. For them, a secular Muslim person of Southeastern Asian
heritage speaking less than standard English who might have been educated in
the United States is a naturalised citizen and believes firmly in its ideals,
is nevertheless an American of dubious standing. They will always be considered
to be something less than a full citizen by large segments of the population.
Of this tribalist sector those who are focused on a concept
of Christendom and those who are paying any attention to European politics are
likely to be fans of Viktor Orban and Matteo Salvini, men who would also base
their understandings of Christian government and democracy on the basis of the
nation (wed to a quasi-Christian narrative) as opposed to standalone or universal
ideals that transcend nations, races and even in a broad sense religious
systems.
Christian Democracy was tried before in Italy as a foil to
Communism. The DC (Christian Democracy) Party was founded during WWII and
firmly established at the war's end with a tremendous amount of help from both
the Catholic Church and the US government. The 1948 election was one of the
CIA's early successes. Italy was focal point during the Cold War due to the
fact that the nation had the largest number of Communists in the Western Bloc.
The DC eventually became synonymous with corruption and was finally disbanded
in 1994.
The attempt by European Christian Democratic parties to
create custodial sacralised systems has targeted them with creating 'sham'
democratic systems and opening them up to cronyism and corruption.
That said this model is becoming increasingly appealing to
some segments of US Evangelicalism. For many years the ultra-individualist
values of Libertarianism were rejected by Christians on the Right. While these
same Christians embraced free markets and capitalism there was a hint of
caution when it came to rank libertarianism in the marketplace and its utilitarian
values – that tends to view the morality of the market as determined by the
will of the people. If a majority of the people wants something, then it's the
will of the people and therefore must be viewed as moral. This democratisation
of values was highly problematic to those trying to create a Christian social
order.
And yet over the past 15 years or so there has been a growing
spirit of libertarianism at work in hitherto Conservative and Christian-Right
circles. This took on a virtually extremist character during the Obama years
and Trump has only poured fuel on this fire. Some Evangelical leaders are
alarmed as there is fear of principles being lost and for their movement to
succumb to the free-for-all decadent and hedonistic individualism that is starting
to find a potent voice in some Right-wing and Evangelical circles. They would
view the Christian Democracy of Salvini and Orban as a possible solution, an
organising principle that focuses on nation, heritage, culture and community
rather than an individualistic tribalism – which of course is eventually
exposed as something of a contradiction and results in anti-social behaviour.
These people fear socialism but they also fear the chaos of non-community
focused free markets and the corrosive effects of consumerist hyper-individualism.
I found it interesting that Orban is utilising the banner of
National Conservatism and the Reagan-John Paul II narrative about victory in
the Cold War. This is combined with God, honor and country. Many would say this
is not democracy at all but rather a form of consensus tribalism, a
communitarian model that is certain to relegate anyone not fully on board to
second-class citizenship. Full rights are for those who sign on to the vision.
Dissenters are going to face pressure and will not have the benefits of legal
protection. Equal Protection enshrined in US Constitutional law will be an
absent concept in a system rooted in God, honor and country.
Of course New Testament Christianity rejects the
Salvini-Orban project and would argue that though men like them may come in the
name of God, they clearly do not know Him and the governments they establish in
His name are by nature and definition – deceptions. They are not what they claim
to be and the claims are in fact blasphemous.
Orban's statements about power vis-à-vis the liberal order,
the need to rule from a position of strength, the notion that power must keep
expanding and being acquired is a warning signal. He doesn't believe his consensus
can hold and due to external opposition it must continually increase its base,
its spectrum and consolidate its power. In other words the Christian Democracy
project is on a permanent war footing with enemies both within and without. And
you can be sure Orban will make sure there are always enemies somewhere. This
is a classic and dangerous formula pushing these governments and would-be
governments in the direction of authoritarianism.
Fidesz and Lega may argue for communitarian Christian
Democracy but the implications of their views, the underlying meaning in some
of their words, the historical examples of their ideas point to the real
direction they are headed – Neo-Fascism.
Many governments are angling for power during the pandemic.
There are some disturbing trends at work in the US as well. There are power
grabs on the part of tech giants and the government desires to be master of all
data, but there are others who are also looking to politically capitalise on
the pandemic-bred instability and when the streets are beginning to fill with
paramilitary types waving ultra-nationalist banners – some wed to types of
Christian expression, it's time to beware.
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