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Religion, Politics and Policy-making in Russia: Domestic and International Dimensions
Conference venue: Tartu (Estonia)
Period: Jun. 6-7, 2012
Deadline for submitting abstracts: Apr. 2, 2012
Description of the Conference
The program organizers seek to explore the politics of religious affairs in Russia and the former Soviet countries and to assess the activities and role of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and other organized religious groups in domestic and foreign policy. Issues related to religious diversity and religious tolerance in Russia and the neighboring countries are also of interest.
Eligible topics for the conference
Below are some areas of special interest, but this is not a complete list of options for the program. Within the overall guidelines of the workshop, all proposals will be given serious consideration even if their topics are not explicitly listed below.
- What is the political and social role and influence of the Russian Orthodox Church?
- What is the nature of religious or church engagement in various social and political institutions in Russia?
- Given Russia’s religious diversity, what is the state of inter-group relations on a scale of tolerance-intolerance or accommodated-alienated?
- What are the issues related to religion in the Russian diaspora in the EU (including the Baltic states) and the Russian “Near Abroad” - religious practices, needs; role of Orthodox churches, Eastern orthodoxy in Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia?
- How well have Russian practices and policies lived up to European norms regarding religion? What are the European concerns regarding freedom of religion/religious life in Russia? What is the role of various European institutions: ECHR, Council of Europe, European Parliament, OSCE, etc.?
- To what extent have Russian religious groups been active in European governing institutions like those just named? How much do Russians see these institutions as appropriate venues for their own political or politically relevant pursuits?
- How much and in what ways have Russian religious groups expressed their concerns about problems in religious conditions in Europe, excessive secularity in Europe, and the like?
- To what extent and in what ways is the Russian Orthodox Church engaged in a “politics of family values” on the broader European stage?
- Explorations of additional issues in the area of politics and religion related to Russia will be considered for inclusion in the workshop program.
Guidelines for submission
If you are interested in presenting a paper, please consider the topic preferences below and send your abstract (250-300 words) and a succinct statement of your present position and recent publications and grants (if any) to Alar Kilp (alar.kilp@ut.ee).
The deadline for receiving abstracts for consideration for the program is April 2, 2012. Abstracts will the evaluated by the workshop organizers for quality of scholarship and appropriateness for the program structure and workshop theme. Authors of abstracts selected to be presented will be notified by April 13 via email.
Full papers by presenters will be due by 25 May, 2012. Send papers via email to Alar Kilp (alar.kilp@ut.ee)
Organizer
Information & contacts
Britt Ressar
e-mail: britt.ressar@ut.ee
Download the full call here.
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