A New Schism: Church Diplomacy and the Ukrainian Crisis

Abstract

Introduction. This article analyzes the behavior of religious actors during the Russian Federation's special military operation in Ukraine. Ecclesiastical (church) diplomacy has gained a lot of attention from the media because of its attempts to resolve the situation. The Ukrainian crisis demonstrates that the relationship between religious actors and states is evolving from a secular model to a post-secular model, the general outline of which, however, has not yet been clearly formed. One way or another, the religious factor has become one of the key factors in the formula for analyzing and solving the Ukrainian crisis.Materials and methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study, in addition to general scientific methods, were special political science research tools - actor and institutional approaches, comparative method, case study method.Results of the research. The study revealed the key importance of Christian religious organizations, which more than others seek to participate in the resolution of the Ukrainian crisis and offer a variety of measures. At the same time, there is a commonality of positions between the official authorities of most states and the higher church hierarchs, based on their location. Such political interdependance of church and secular authorities has mixed consequences. Religious actors everywhere reduce the potential of their international political subjectivity. This is particularly noticeable in the case of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is substantially strengthening its position inside Russia but is becoming less influential outside it.Discussions and conclusions. We argue that the world political system will continue to drift away from the ideals of the Modernity and its secular principle. At the same time it is hardly possible to talk about archaization in the form of desecularization. Rather the Ukrainian crisis promotes a post-secular model, a new balance between religion, state power and society. Meanwhile, the confrontational nature of interaction between Christian churches during the Russian special military operation in Ukraine further weakens the ecumenical movement and generates new schisms between Orthodox churches. This also affects the identitarian profile of the societies of the Euro-Atlantic and Eastern European states, which is becoming more flattened.