Religion as a tool of state influence: development and current role of the Russian Orthodox Church

Анотація

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of religious institutions as instruments of political and information-psychological influence of Russian Federation’s activities. It examines historical development of relations between the state and the Orthodox Church from early twentieth century to the present. Particular attention is focused on transformation of the church structures during Soviet period and their integration into the system of state governance. Special emphasis is placed on the mechanisms of control over the Russian Orthodox Church by Soviet security services, which ensured its functioning as an element of the ideological apparatus and as a tool of foreign policy influence during the Cold War.

This study analyzes preservation of Russian Orthodox Church institutional continuity in post-Soviet period, absence of comprehensive institutional reform and lustration, which contributed to the persistence of Soviet practices and their adaptation to new geopolitical conditions. The role of Russkiy mir is examined as ideological foundation of Russian Orthodox Church’s contemporary activities, combining religious, cultural, and political elements and serving as a key instrument of Russia’s “soft power” policy.

Particular attention is devoted to activities of Russian Orthodox Church and its affiliated religious structures in Ukraine, including Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate, Old Believer communities. It describes other religious groups maintaining ties with the Russian religious center. The article analyzes their influence on public opinion formation, dissemination of pro-Russian narratives, and their participation in information and psychological influence operations in the war for the Independence of Ukraine. It also considers cases of ideological support for Russia’s aggressive policy by certain representatives of clergy, as well as use of religious infrastructure in occupied territories.

The role of financial, organizational, and cultural instruments including specialized foundations, educational and humanitarian projects in shaping networks of influence as part of Russia’s hybrid strategy is highlighted. The study demonstrates that the religious factor constitutes an important component of modern information and psychological operations aimed at delegitimizing alternative development models, particularly Ukraine’s European integration.

It is concluded that in contemporary conditions Russian Orthodox Church functions not only as a religious institution but also as a geopolitical instrument integrated into the state policy of Russian Federation. Necessity of further interdisciplinary research on the religious factor in the context of national and international security is substantiated, along with development of effective mechanisms to counter information and psychological threats.