What is Christian Democracy?
Applies Christian social teaching to politics: a social market economy, strong families and international cooperation.
On our 12-axis map it is defined by democracy rule (82%), religious faith (80%), traditional tradition (66%) and global nation (62%), and stays fairly neutral on power, liberty, force, culture, ownership, markets and trade. On the two-axis compass it falls in the Libertarian Centre area.
What Christian Democracy stands for
Leaders should be chosen, criticized and replaced by the people, regularly and freely.
Faith and religious values should shape public life and the laws we live by.
Long-standing norms, family structures and morals hold society together.
Big problems are shared; international law and institutions deserve real authority.
Libertarian Centre
Economic +0.5 · Social -2.8 (−10 to +10).
Biggest difference: faith — Christian Democracy is more religious (80% vs 48%).
Biggest difference: trade — Christian Democracy is more open trade (56% vs 30%).
Biggest difference: nation — Christian Democracy is more global (62% vs 30%).
Nearest historical thinkers: Edmund Burke (85%), John Locke (83%) and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (83%).
Christian Democracy, axis by axis
Government
World
Economy
Society
Profiles are simplified summaries of mainstream positions; real movements vary by country and era. Methodology.
FAQ
Is Christian Democracy left or right?
On the classic political compass Christian Democracy sits at economic +0.5 and social -2.8 (−10 to +10), which places it in the Libertarian Centre area. Economically it leans toward markets and private ownership.
What does Christian Democracy believe?
Applies Christian social teaching to politics: a social market economy, strong families and international cooperation. Its most defining positions are democracy on rule, religious on faith, traditional on tradition and global on nation.
What ideologies are similar to Christian Democracy?
The closest profiles on our 12 axes are Centrism (88% similar), Distributism (86% similar) and Conservatism (85% similar).
Am I a Christian Democracy supporter?
Take the free 12 Axes test: your result shows your match percentage with Christian Democracy and 30 other ideologies.