Christian Democracy vs Christian Socialism
Christian democracy applies Christian social teaching to politics, supporting the family, community, a social market economy and cooperation between nations.
- Every person has dignity and should never be treated only as a means.
- The family is the foundation of society and deserves public support.
- Subsidiarity: decisions should be made at the lowest level that can handle them well.
Christian socialism applies Christian teachings on love, justice and care for the poor to economics, favoring cooperation, common ownership and social welfare over competition.
- Every person has equal dignity as a child of God.
- Cooperation and fellowship are better than competition as the basis of economic life.
- Society has a moral duty to protect the poor, workers and the vulnerable.
- Christian Democracy: petals and stars
- Christian Socialism: dashed outline
★ Where they differ most
- Ownership70 points apart
Christian Democracy: Private (mild). Christian Socialism: Public (moderate).
- Authority55 points apart
Christian Democracy: Strong leader (mild). Christian Socialism: Democratic (moderate).
- Culture55 points apart
Christian Democracy: National identity (moderate). Christian Socialism: Multicultural (mild).
- Foreign policy55 points apart
Christian Democracy: Balanced. Christian Socialism: Cooperation (moderate).
★ Where they are closest
- Structure · 0 apart
- Religion · 20 apart
- Markets · 20 apart
Axis by axis
Christian Socialism
Economy
Equality / Markets- OwnershipMild: Private40%60%PublicPrivate
- MarketsMild: Planned63%37%PlannedFree
- WelfareMild: Shared63%37%SharedSelf-reliant
State and liberty
Liberty / Authority- AuthorityMild: Strong leader43%57%DemocraticStrong leader
- SecurityModerate: Order25%75%LibertyOrder
- StructureMild: Local55%45%LocalCentral
Society
Progress / Tradition- MoralityModerate: Traditional20%80%ProgressiveTraditional
- ReligionStrong: Religious13%87%SecularReligious
- TechnologyModerate: Caution30%70%EmbraceCaution
- CultureModerate: National identity28%72%MulticulturalNational identity
World
Global / Nation- TradeModerate: Global68%32%GlobalProtected
- Foreign policyBalanced53%47%CooperationStrength
★ 12 Axes Political Test ★
How close are you to Christian Democracy or Christian Socialism?
Answer plain statements on 12 axes and see your match with Christian Democracy or Christian Socialism and every other profile on the site, axis by axis.
FAQ
Christian Democracy vs Christian Socialism
What is the difference between Christian Democracy and Christian Socialism?
Christian democracy applies Christian social teaching to politics, supporting the family, community, a social market economy and cooperation between nations. Christian socialism applies Christian teachings on love, justice and care for the poor to economics, favoring cooperation, common ownership and social welfare over competition. On the 12 axes they differ most on ownership, authority, culture.
What do Christian Democracy and Christian Socialism have in common?
Their positions are closest on structure, religion, markets. Overall their profiles are a 78% match on the 12 axes used by the 12 Axes Political Test.
Am I closer to Christian Democracy or Christian Socialism?
Take the 12 Axes Political Test. Your result shows your match with both, and with every other ideology on the site, axis by axis.