Russia’s Architecture of Hegemony: Christian Orthodox Subordination Strategies in Russia’s Peripheral Zone

Abstract

Russia has enlisted the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and instrumentalised it as part of what can be described as a dynamic ‘soft-power offensive’. Its aim is to consolidate hierarchical power as a means to insulate an emerging Kremlin-centric political order and, subsequently, reassert its hegemonic influence over its periphery. This article argues that a strategy of using the Orthodox Church as a means of soft power is being deployed to bolster the realisation of this hegemony and, where possible, it aims to align potential subordinates’ interests with those of Moscow via the Christian Orthodox Church. More specifically, this article addresses the deployment of a Christian Orthodox Subordination Strategy (COSS) and its effects in Moldova and Ukraine.

Notes

1 See also Huntington (1996, p. 66).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Maximilian Ohle

Maximilian Ohle, Department of Political Science, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg 72074, Germany. Email: [email protected]

Richard J. Cook

Richard J. Cook, International Relations Department, Zhou Enlai School of Government, Nankai University, Tongyan Road 38# Haihe Education Park, Tianjin 300350, People’s Republic of China. Email: [email protected]

Srðan M. Jovanović

Srđan M. Jovanović, Faculty of History, Nankai University, Tongyan Road 38# Haihe Education Park, Tianjin 300350, People’s Republic of China. Email: [email protected]

Zhaoying Han

Zhaoying Han, International Relations Department, Zhou Enlai School of Government, Nankai University, Tongyan Road 38# Haihe Education Park, Tianjin 300350, People’s Republic of China. Email: [email protected]