The Religious Factor in Russia's Foreign Policy

by Curanovic; Alicja

• ISBN13: 9780415688314
• ISBN10: 0415688310
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-02-02
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This book examines how religion interacts with Russian foreign policy, arguing that religion is an important and neglected factor in shaping Russia'¬"s outlook towards international relations. It surveys the importance of religion for social life in Russia, both historically and at present, and considers a wide range of Russian attitudes which are affected by religion '¬ ; such as Russian nationalism, notions of Slavic solidarity, the divine mission of Russian Orthodox civilisation, Russian imperialism, Russia'¬"s special approach towards Islam. The book discusses how religious organizations, especially the Russian Orthodox Church, operate in international relations, pursuing their own interests and those of the Russian state; explores how religious ideas and culture linked to religion impinge on Russian attitudes and identity, and thereby affect policy; and demonstrates how policy influenced by religion impacts on Russian foreign policy in practice in a wide range of examples, including Russia'¬"s relations with other orthodox countries, non-orthodox Western countries, Muslim countries, Israel and the Vatican.