The Catholic Church as a source of institutional innovation and social technologies. A new perspective at the formation of European civilization

Abstract

The article provides an overview of the key papers devoted to the contribution of the Catholic Church to the political, economic and social development of Europe. Most macrosociological, economic and political theories ignore the influence of the church on the formation of states, state institutions, economic practices and behavioral mechanisms of the inhabitants of the European region. However, the latest research fills this gap and explains why the Vatican and its methods of socio-political influence and control had a decisive impact on the making of the first European states, their democratic institutions and the social structure of European society from the perspective of political science, sociology, economics and anthropology.  review of the key works and scientific articles indicated in this work allows us to supplement the existing palette of studies and consider the contribution of the Catholic Church to the development of Europe.