This collection of essays analyzes the importance of Christian democracy in European politics. This interdisciplinary volume features contributions from American and European historians and political scientists who explore the historical roots of the European Christian democratic movement in Catholic social doctrine and political practice and use Christian democracy as a means to analyze the relationship between religion and politics, church and state. Essays in the collection include both case studies and comparative analyses. They offer a comperhensive assessment of Christian Democracy and the key role it played in establishing constitutional government and social policy in western Europe.