Russia's Politics and Religions

Title	% from total grade	Grade
1. Individual work	-	-
Within the module, students will prepare for seminars, write essays and a report. • The aim of essays is to write one’s opinion in a structured, reasoned, and consistent manner, emphasising the essentials by researching and analysing the acquired information; to develop policy analysis skills and the ability to develop recommendations for the development of political directions. • The objective of the seminars is to develop students’ ability to justify their point of view; to stimulate activity; to test their knowledge of the topic and the material. • The objective of the report is to develop the ability to identify the main problem of the topic; to identify and evaluate alternative arguments and points of view; to present one’s own point of view, explaining and arguing why this point of view is more acceptable and superior to any other. The report must compare all possible alternatives, considering all their weaknesses and strengths. Another objective is to develop the skills to independently research situations and problems, evaluate them and develop solutions.

Title	% from total grade	Grade
1. Examination	-	-
Essays – 25% Active participation in seminars – 25% Report and its presentation – 25% Final examination (exam) – 25%

Christianisation of Kievan Rus: what lead to it and how it influenced Russia Description Annotation: Christianisation of Kievan Rus is one of the most important moments in Russian history. This event largely determined Russia’s foreign and domestic policies. The main purpose of this lecture is to explore what led to this and how it affected Russia politically, culturally, economically and socially. Literature: Hamant, Y. The Christianization Of Ancient Russia. (Paris: Unesco). 1992. Pp. 29-75

The long way to autocephaly: how Russian Orthodox Church became independent Description Annotation: More than 500 years have passed since the Christianisation of Russia to the full autocephaly of the Russian Orthodox Church. This lecture will cover how it changed the role of the church in Russia, the country’s foreign and domestic policies, including relations with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Literature: Shubin, D. H. The Patriarchal Era Through Tsar Peter The Great 1586 To 1725. (New York: Algora). 2005. Pp. 5-36

“Troubled Times” for Orthodoxy: the reforms of Patriarch Nikon and Raskol Description Annotation: Patriarch Nikon’s reforms led to Raskol, the division of the Russian Orthodox Church into the official church and the Old Believers. The main purpose of this lecture is to better understand what led to Raskol, how Nikon’s reforms influenced the Russian Orthodox Church and its role in domestic politics, as well as the difference between Orthodox and Old Believers. Literature: Crummey, R. O. "The Orthodox Church And The Schism". The Cambridge History Of Russia, 2006, 618-639.

“Opium of the People”: elimination of religion from establishment of the Soviet Union to the start of the Great Patriotic War Description Annotation: During this time, all religions, especially the Russian Orthodox Church, suffered heavy repressions from Soviet leaders. This lecture will cover why such a policy was introduced, how it affected the country’s domestic politics, what was the result of the repression, how seriously religions and believers were affected. Literature: Shubin, D. H. History Of Russian Christianity, Volume Four, The Russian Orthodox Church During The Twentieth Century. (lulu.com). 2016. Pp. 29-145

From death of Stalin to the collapse of the Soviet Union: secret life of religious organisations Description Annotation: Although religious organisations were not persecuted in the early years of the Soviet power after World War II, their actions were limited. The main purpose of this lecture is to describe how religions and believers lived during this period and influenced the collapse of the USSR. Literature: Anderson, J. Religion, State And Politics In The Soviet Union And Successor States. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press). 2010. Pp. 6-181

Patriarch Alexy II: formation of modern Russian Orthodox Church Description Annotation: After the collapse of the Soviet Union, religious organisations, especially the Russian Orthodox Church, regained their influence. Patriarch Alexey II was among those who helped achieve it. His role in “rebuilding” the Russian Orthodox Church, influence on Russia’s domestic and foreign policy, interaction with state institutions will be discussed as part of this lecture. Literature: Garrard, J. and C. Garrard. Russian Orthodoxy Resurgent. (Princeton: Princeton University Press). 2008. Pp. 36-100

Structure and key actors in modern Russian Orthodox Church

What role Russian Orthodox Church plays in Russia’s domestic and foreign policy? Description Annotation: This lecture focuses on the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church on Russia’s domestic and foreign policy. In particular, the strength and importance of the church’s role, in which areas its impact is greater and smaller, what tools it uses and avoids, what people are targeted and ignored. Literature: Tolstaya, K. Orthodox Paradoxes. (Boston: Brill). 2014. Pp. 71-90

History of Islam in Russia: in a struggle to find a place under the sun Description Annotation: Despite having significantly fewer followers than Orthodoxy, Islam still plays an important role in Russia. The main purpose of this lecture is to explore how Islam has gained and lost its influence over the centuries, what role it plays today and why, to analyse its impact on Russia’s domestic and foreign policy. Literature: Yemelianova, G. M. Russia And Islam. (New York: Palgrave). 2002. Pp. 1-55

Future of religion in Russia: rise of Islam, further desecularisation or the forefront of atheism?

The long way to autocephaly: how Russian Orthodox Church became independent Description Annotation: More than 500 years have passed since the Christianisation of Russia to the full autocephaly of the Russian Orthodox Church. This lecture will cover how it changed the role of the church in Russia, the country’s foreign and domestic policies, including relations with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Literature: Shubin, D. H. The Patriarchal Era Through Tsar Peter The Great 1586 To 1725. (New York: Algora). 2005. Pp. 5-36

“Troubled Times” for Orthodoxy: the reforms of Patriarch Nikon and Raskol Description Annotation: Patriarch Nikon’s reforms led to Raskol, the division of the Russian Orthodox Church into the official church and the Old Believers. The main purpose of this lecture is to better understand what led to Raskol, how Nikon’s reforms influenced the Russian Orthodox Church and its role in domestic politics, as well as the difference between Orthodox and Old Believers. Literature: Crummey, R. O. "The Orthodox Church And The Schism". The Cambridge History Of Russia, 2006, 618-639.

What role Russian Orthodox Church plays in Russia’s domestic and foreign policy? Description Annotation: This lecture focuses on the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church on Russia’s domestic and foreign policy. In particular, the strength and importance of the church’s role, in which areas its impact is greater and smaller, what tools it uses and avoids, what people are targeted and ignored. Literature: Tolstaya, K. Orthodox Paradoxes. (Boston: Brill). 2014. Pp. 71-90

Future of religion in Russia: rise of Islam, further desecularisation or the forefront of atheism?