The false virtuous centre: the political possibility according to Francisco Canals

Abstract:

Francisco Canals’ political thought occupies an important place in his inte- llectual work, although it is perhaps the least known. Much of this doctrinal corpus has been compiled in countless newspaper articles or in journals such as Cristiandad and Verbo. One of the most compelling aspects of his political analysis is his study of moderan- tism, or political centrism. Within the context of the Spanish history, this was a political current that sought to draw traditionalist Catholics towards liberalism. Canals does not limit himself to a purely historical analysis, rather, informed by his Thomist formation, he aims to show how these political dynamics lead to the secularisation of society.

Key words:

Traditionalism, thomism, secularisation, liberalism.