Product Description: According to received wisdom parties have played a mainly destructive role in French political development. Of questionable legitimacy, pursuing narrow sectarian goals, often corruptly, they have brought about division, weakness and the collapse of regimes...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Recent years have witnessed the development of new Christian Democratic movements in Northern and Eastern Europe, and the revival of those in Western Europe, which are subject to change in an increasingly secular society. The Christian Democratic parties are being required to respond to the new political challenges which address any party, such as the future of the welfare state, or the search for a new security agenda in Europe. These developments are assessed in this text, together with an analysis of the challenges the parties face, and suggestions for their future development.

Product Description: The "University of Reading European and International Studies" series include books which discuss some of the major contemporary issues from a comparative perspective. The aim of the collection is to bring together studies that emphasize the role of political, economic, historical and cultural factors in shaping the course of international co-operation and international conflicts, particularly from the point of view of Europe and its relations with the rest of the world...read more

Product Description: First published in 1984. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.