Religion, Politics, and Identity Panel

The panel had very excited discussion on modern Russian identity and connection between Orthodox Church and politics. Ms. Fagan gave an overview of the role of religion in Russian national identity, especially the key issue of whether Russia should be regarded as primarily Orthodox Christian or as a multi-religious nation, and the implications of that dilemma for Kremlin policy towards the major faiths. Dr. Lunkin pointed out that the high clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church in Putin’s period supports the semi-authoritarian state, claims the anti-democratic position. He gave the example when during social mobilization period of 2012 and demonstrations for the fair elections, clergy and patriarch Kirill who earlier was very cautious in his political speeches unambiguously condemned democratic opposition. In her presentation, Dr. Rozanova focus on the process of current transformation of the Russian identity based on conservative principles, and the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in the political sphere, as well as its critical interpretation of human rights issues, liberalism and democracy as a product of Western civilization. Professor Khodarkovsky emphasized on the historical aspects of Russian identity pointing out not just the role of Orthodox Church but also Putin’s political usage of Islam as a second popular religion in Russia.