Description
Type International Relations scholars have largely neglected the presence of the Vatican as an actor in the international arena, despite the fact that it is the capital of the state of the Holy See. The Vatican carries strong political influence and privileges, such as its United Nations Permanent Observer status, that allow it to mobilize and reach out to national and international political figures. However, due to its lack of military power and productive economic capacity, the Vatican does not have the "hard" power to lead the international political agenda. Therefore, when it comes to advocacy for social, political, or economic causes, the Vatican relies on transnational activism to spread its message to followers and to persuade state leaders and international institutions. This thesis analyzes the role of the Vatican in transnational activism, while also analyzing its differences and similarities with secular transnational activists. It draws on the literature on transnational activists to understand the Vatican's behavior in international politics. To help understand the Vatican's transnational advocacy work, this thesis analyzes its strategies, such as the use of political opportunity structures, media influence, moral authority, and the mobilization of its base. The thesis evaluates these efforts with a substantive case study focused on its work with other human rights groups to persuade international financial institutions (IFIs) and rich-country governments to adopt debt relief programs to ease the burden of the heavily indebted poor countries. The outcome of such advocacy was the creation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative in 1996, and a reformed and enhanced initiative in 1999. This case demonstrates that the Vatican relied on both its quasi-state features and on the tactics of transnational activism to put pressure IFIs and creditor states to develop and modify international debt relief programs. The Vatican was not alone on this cause; the collaboration and influence of transnational activists and international organizations, such as Jubilee 2000, strengthened the church's impact. The enhanced HIPC Initiative was an interesting demonstration of successful collaboration between the Vatican, as a religious transnational organization, and secular transnational organizations. The thesis demonstrates how the Vatican's religious message of the biblical Jubilee resonated with the moral messages of secular organizations, lending forceful credibility to the cause. The findings presented here illuminate the value of studying both religious and secular forms of transnational activism. In this case, the Vatican was able to persuade international financial institutions and creditor states and garner support from secular activists in the HIPCI, but such cooperation across religious-secular lines is not always the case. In other areas, such as population control, the religious positions of the Vatican clash with the values of secular organizations, limiting the church's effectiveness in international policy. Ultimately, the Vatican is just another international actor seeking allies and relying on the approval of the international community to advance its causes
