Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)

Course Description Status: Approved

Course Description Version: 24/25.P.1.00

Description Period: 2024./25 academic year pavasara semestris

Study Course Accepted: -

Study Course Description

Russia's Politics and Religions

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
SZF_058
Branch of Science
Political science
ECTS
4.00
Target Audience
Political Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Artūrs Bikovs
Structure Unit Manager
Karina Palkova
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts

Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv

About Study Course

Objective

To study, analyse and describe the role of religions in Russia’s domestic and foreign policy; to provide students with information and guidelines, i.e. skillset, methods, and sources for further research on Russia’s domestic and foreign policy.

Preliminary Knowledge

Basic knowledge about methods and theories of international relations, as well as general knowledge on Russia and religions, in particular Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.Students will evaluate the main types of Russian religion and their historical development. Analyse how religion influences Russian political life and processes, both through its historical prism and today. Students will contrast and differentiate the determinants of religious thinking, their impact on society, politics, economy, culture and social processes.

Skills

1.Students will independently develop analytical research on the future of religion in Russia and/or its impact on Russian policy, critically selecting sources of information, presenting their conclusions and debating in answer and question sessions. Students will explain the impact of religion on Russian society in a reasoned and in-depth way and perform a critical analysis of historical problem situations.

Competences

1.Students will evaluate and substantiate the role of religion in Russia’s domestic and foreign policy. Students will model possible future scenarios for the role of religion in Russia and its society. Students will also recommend new ideas about a possible model for building Russian relations model in relations between religious organisations and public administration institutions.

Assessment

Individual work

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.

Examination

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

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1

  1. Christianisation of Kievan Rus: what lead to it and how it influenced Russia

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
EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Lecture
On site
Auditorium
2

  1. The long way to autocephaly: how Russian Orthodox Church became independent

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
EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Lecture
On site
Auditorium
2

  1. “Troubled Times” for Orthodoxy: the reforms of Patriarch Nikon and Raskol

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.
EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Lecture
On site
Auditorium
2

  1. “Opium of the People”: elimination of religion from establishment of the Soviet Union to the start of the Great Patriotic War

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
EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Lecture
On site
Auditorium
2

  1. From death of Stalin to the collapse of the Soviet Union: secret life of religious organisations

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
EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Lecture
On site
Auditorium
2

  1. Patriarch Alexy II: formation of modern Russian Orthodox Church

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
EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Lecture
On site
Auditorium
2

  1. Structure and key actors in modern Russian Orthodox Church

EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Class/Seminar
On site
Auditorium
2

  1. What role Russian Orthodox Church plays in Russia’s domestic and foreign policy?

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
EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Lecture
On site
Auditorium
2

  1. History of Islam in Russia: in a struggle to find a place under the sun

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
EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Lecture
On site
Auditorium
2

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

EventType
Modality
Location
Contact hours
1.
Class/Seminar
On site
Auditorium
2
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
4.00
Contact hours:
30 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Visa literatūra ir angļu valodā un piemērota gan latviešu, gan angļu plūsmas studentiem

2.

Anderson, J. Religion, State And Politics In The Soviet Union And Successor States. (Cambridge, GBR: Cambridge University Press). 2010. Pp. 6-181

3.

Carlson, J. D., and Owens, E. C. The Sacred And The Sovereign. (Washington: Georgetown University Press), 2003. Pp. 90-154

4.

Crummey, R. O. "The Orthodox Church And The Schism". The Cambridge History Of Russia. 2006. 618-639.

5.

Garrard, J. and Garrard, C. Russian Orthodoxy Resurgent. (Princeton: Princeton University Press). 2008. Pp. 36-100

6.

Hamant, Y. The Christianization Of Ancient Russia. (Paris: Unesco). 1992. Pp. 29-75

7.

Polonsky, A. The Jews In Poland And Russia. 2019. Pp. 320-440

8.

Pospielovsky, D. The Orthodox Church In The History Of Russia. (Crestwood: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press). 1998. Pp. 1-57

9.

Shubin, D. H. A History Of Russian Christianity. (New York: Agathon Press). 2004. Pp. 87-155.

10.

Shubin, D. H. History Of Russian Christianity, Volume Four, The Russian Orthodox Church During The Twentieth Century. (lulu.com). 2016. Pp. 29-145

11.

Shubin, D. H. A History Of Russian Christianity, Volume II The Patriarchal Era Through Tsar Peter The Great 1586 To 1725. (New York: Algora). 2005. Pp. 5-36

12.

Shubin, D. H. A History Of Russian Christianity, Volume III The Synodal Era And The Sectarians 1725 To 1894. (New York:Algora). 2005. Pp. 95-207

13.

Snelling, J. Buddhism In Russia. (London: Vega). 2002. Pp. 236-268

14.

Tolstaya, K. Orthodox Paradoxes. (Boston: Brill). 2014. Pp. 71-90

15.

Welchman, A. Politics Of Religion/Religions Of Politics. (Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands). 2015. Pp. 171-187

16.

Yemelianova, G. M. Russia And Islam. (New York: Palgrave). 2002. Pp. 1-55

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