Wikipedia

International Secretariat of Democratic Parties of Christian Inspiration

The International Secretariat of Democratic Parties of Christian Inspiration (French: Sécretariat International des Partis Démocratiques d'Inspiration Chrétienne, SIPDIC) was a political international of Christian democratic parties in Interwar Europe.

History

edit

SIPDIC was established by representatives of the French Popular Democratic Party (PDP), the German Centre Party and the Italian People's Party (PPI), among others, at a meeting in Paris in December 1925. Party representatives agreed to the organisation's structure and procedure at its second congress in Brussels in May 1926. It consisted of a central committee comprising one representative for each member party, aimed at fostering communication between them.[1] The central committee organised annual conferences and sent circular letters on an irregular basis with information on national party developments. The committee was seated in Paris and was "effectively an appendix of the PDP secretariat", with the PDP covering its expenses. This structure was soon deemed too loose and informal, and a moderate reform was agreed upon at the congress in 's-Hertogenbosch in July 1928. The central committee was replaced by an executive committee which would meet twice a year, and member parties were all obliged to make small regular financial contributions to the secretariat. Additionally, the irregular circular letters were replaced by a regular internal bulletin.[2]

SIPDIC was allowed for constructive internal debate and the formulation of common positions on themes such as the relation with socialist parties, the future of the League of Nations, family policy and the challenge of bolshevism and fascism.[3] Despite SIPDIC's ideological cohesion, the geopolitical situation of interwar Europe formed a barrier to transnational cooperation. For example, party representatives repeatedly rejected PPI resolutions to condemn Fascist Italy, not wanting to harm diplomatic relations.[4] Moreover, the PDP was held back in its cooperation with the Centre Party by fear for attacks from the nationalist right.[5]

Upon the rise of Adolf Hitler and the dissolution of the Centre Party in 1933, SIPDIC lost "its main rationale, which was to foster European reconciliation – especially between France and Germany". While party representatives continued to meet annually, the organisation became increasingly irrelevant and was dissolved in 1939.[6]

Associated parties

edit

References

edit
Citations
  1. ^ Kaiser 2009, pp. 86–87.
  2. ^ Kaiser 2009, pp. 89–90.
  3. ^ Kaiser 2009, pp. 98–99.
  4. ^ Kaiser 2009, pp. 101.
  5. ^ Kaiser 2009, pp. 115.
  6. ^ Kaiser 2009, pp. 111.
  7. ^ a b Kaiser 2009, pp. 91.
  8. ^ Kaiser 2009, pp. 50.
Bibliography
  • Kaiser, Wolfram (2009). Christian Democracy and the Origins of European Union. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780511497056.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Secretariat_of_Democratic_Parties_of_Christian_Inspiration&oldid=1255966747"