Abstract
This paper explores the Holy See’s role within the international order of states. Although viewed primarily as a religious institution, the Holy See’s position as a sovereign state and head of a religious body allows it to have a prominent voice on the world stage. I examine the IR theories of constructivism and realism in relation to the Holy See’s influence. This comparison illustrates how the Holy See can affect international action due to its emphasis on diplomacy and peace. I review the history and ability of the Holy See to implement a diplomatic approach to engage with states multilaterally and bilaterally. This paper argues that the Hole See uses soft power to work with other countries on shared concerns. Despite the traditional way of viewing states and power, the Holy See has an important role in global affairs, although lacking the abilities many large states have.
DOI
10.5642/urceu.RSYU8632
Rights Information
2022 Jace Bartz
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Bartz, Jace
(2022)
"The Holy See: An Institution Like No Other,"
Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union:
Vol. 2022, Article 4.
DOI: 10.5642/urceu.RSYU8632
Available at:
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/urceu/vol2022/iss1/4