Chapter 2
The Christian Democratic Tradition in Western Europe
While it is true that the majority of Europe's democratic institutions are bound up with Christian influences and ideas, the Anglo-Saxon tradition of politics has evolved in a markedly different way from that of our continental neighbours. This has led to an ignorance in this country about the Christian Democratic tradition in the rest of Europe. Many commentators, understanding nothing of its roots or outlook, tend to equate it with British Conservatism. This is to overlook the hostility between Thatcherites and the European Christian Democrats over a whole host of issues, not least the future of Europe and the Social Charter which Mrs Thatcher saw as a first step towards socialism. Not surprisingly, the British Conservative Party's application to join the European People's Party (the Christian Democrats in the European Parliament) was opposed particularly by the Dutch, Irish and Italians. The Dutch MEP, Arie Oostlander, says they have little in common with the New Right or Conservatism. Even some CDU members in Germany who favoured the Conservative application became more hostile in the light of the British Government's reluctant attitude towards the reunification of Germany. This has serious implications for Britain's future in Europe. Western European Christian Democrats achieved almost twenty per cent (35 million) votes in the 1989 European Elections. They contested seats throughout the EEC states, Great Britain being the sole exception. The isolation of British Conservatives may be compounded by future developments: the first free elections in Eastern Europe since the ending of the Cold War resulted in victory in East Germany for the Christian Democrats. As one by one the new Eastern European democracies accede to the Community and its Parliament the Christian Democrat bloc of parties will, along with the Social Democrats, shape the Continent's destiny. While the Left has painfully adjusted to the politics of Western Europe (with the SDP acting as catalyst), the Centre and Right have yet to experience the same inevitable realignment. Britain has been a notoriously reluctant member of the European Community. Our country has sat on the sidelines, usually criticising, and then only grudgingly accepting the movement towards closer European co-operation. Britain's major parties have been isolationist and still contain many fervent anti-Europeans.