Russia's Orthodox Soft Power

The Carnegie Council ^ | 03-23-2015 | Nicolai N. Petro

[NRx]

Abstract

For many analysts the term Russky mir, or Russian World, epitomizes an expansionist and messianic Russian foreign policy, the perverse intersection of the interests of the Russian state and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Little noted is that the term actually means something quite different for each party. For the state it is a tool for expanding Russia's cultural and political influence, while for the Russian Orthodox Church it is a spiritual concept, a reminder that through the baptism of Rus, God consecrated these people to the task of building a Holy Rus.

The close symphonic relationship between the Orthodox Church and state in Russia thus provides Russian foreign policy with a definable moral framework, one that, given its popularity, is likely to continue to shape the country's policies well into the future.

[NRx]

All in all this is an unusually sober and very nuanced examination of the role, and history, of the Orthodox Church in Russian society and its somewhat complex relationship with the state. In some spots it seems to gloss over some of Russia's decidedly "Real Politik" approach to foreign affairs and the very fair criticism of the gross corruption in the Russian government. But this is definitely not the usual drive by "Putin is Hitler" op-ed and it deserves some careful reading.

Comments are welcome, but please read the article first.

HT: Kolokotronis

[ansel12]

Russia seems untouched by Christianity.

They have an institution and ceremonies and costumes, but Christianity never to seemed affect them in a positive way.

[Wiz-Nerd]

Wow!!

“While much of American and Western media dismiss him as an authoritarian and reactionary, a throwback, Putin may be seeing the future with more clarity than Americans still caught up in a Cold War paradigm. As the decisive struggle in the second half of the 20th century was vertical, East vs. West, the 21st century struggle may be horizontal, with conservatives and traditionalists in every country arrayed against the militant secularism of a multicultural and transnational elite.”

This is what we are seeing globally. It is called ‘good’ vs ‘evil’.

Thanks for posting this. Great read.

[vladimir998]

“the Orthodox Church in Russian society and its somewhat complex relationship with the state.”

It’s not complex.

[FormerLib]

Thanks for bearing false witness.

[ansel12]

That didn’t make any sense.