ebooks logo journals logo reference works logo abstract databases logo
bullet  SIGN IN Register | Why Register? | Got a Voucher? alerts   marked lists   shopping cart 
Session timed out - new session started. You may need to sign in again. [ hide message ]

informaworld

HOME   |   SEARCH   |   BROWSE
    Issues List       Latest Issue       Volume 12 Issue 3       Subscribe       Article       References       Related articles      
<< firstfirst   < prevprev   Table of contentstoc   next >next   last >>last
Publisher Logo Publication Cover
Search within this journal

Myths and the political use of religion in Christian Democratic culture 

Author: Paolo Acanfora
DOI: 10.1080/13545710701455692
Publication Frequency: 4 issues per year
Published in: journal Journal of Modern Italian Studies, Volume 12, Issue 3 September 2007 , pages 307 - 338
Formats available: HTML (English) : PDF (English)
Article Requests: Order Reprints : Request Permissions


Abstract

In this essay, the author will attempt to analyze the overall relationship established between the party of Christian Democracy (so named for its affiliation with a traditional religion) and the phenomena of the sacralization of politics that have so profoundly shaped the character of mass parties in the twentieth century. The quest for consensus led the Catholic party to adopt a new language, based on mythical thinking and profoundly indebted - in content and mode of communication - to the experiences of totalitarianism. The active rivalry with political religions marked, both in the phase of development and in the process of communication, the forms of mass political expression of Christian Democracy. De Gasperi's proposal concerning the definition of new identities and political affiliations, both on the national level and on the broader Western level (both in European and Atlantic terms) was the product of a unique ideological development in keeping with the requirements of modern mass politics.
Keywords: Sacralization of politics; Myth; Christian Democracy; Political identity; Nation; Europeanism; Atlantism
view references (154)
Bookmark with:
  • CiteULike
  • Del.icio.us
  • BibSonomy
  • Connotea
  • More bookmarks
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Accessibility | RSS
FAQs in: English . Français . Español . 中文(简体和繁體)
© 2009 Informa plc