Strategic Faith in Russia: Cultural DNA and Managed Pluralism

Abstract

Russia’s multi-faith society has formed over 1,000 years of geopolitical and cultural evolution. This heritage is key to understanding modern Russia and assessing prospects for “covenantal pluralism.” The Russian government has always managed religious diversity strategically—for national security, domestic stability, and international relations. Covenantal pluralism envisions more—a mutually-reinforcing combination of state-protected equality and societal cross-faith support. This article explains religious plurality as part of Russia’s cultural DNA and analyzes the ensuing contemporary state and societal dynamics of religious freedoms, including in cases of Russian relations with Crimea, Constantinople, Turkey, the U.S., and France, as well as legislation, attitudes, and cyber security. Strategic uses of religion and cultural narratives leverage the dual meaning of “faith in Russia”—religious and patriotic.