Kirche und Demokratie

This study examines the role of the Catholic Church in the tension between democratic and authoritarian regimes. It analyses the positioning of the Church towards the military regimes in Argentina and Chile in the 1970s and 1980s.
The study examines factors that influence the Catholic Church and lead it to adopt different attitudes towards authoritarian systems despite the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. By applying the Most Similar Systems Design, six central influencing factors are identified that determine whether the Church criticises authoritarian regimes, promotes the transition to democracy or acts as a force threatening democracy.