Three Models of Church-State Relations in Contemporary Russia

Abstract

This article looks at state-religion relations in Russia at two levels: legal and political. After an introductory overview of the development of religious freedom legislation in Russia since the fall of the USSR, I analyze the current model of religion-state relations in Russia. I then move from the legal to the political plane and argue that in Russia not one, but three models of religion-state relations are at play, which coexist and in part contradict each other. These three models are: one, in which the Russian Orthodox Church tries to act as a partner of the state and a representative of a majority; a cooperation model, in which the Russian Orthodox Church presents itself as a minority in need of protection; and a disestablishment model, in which the Russian Orthodox Church acts like an antagonist of the state engaged in a “culture war.” I conclude that all three models coexist and are complicated even further by adjacent legislation, ideology and bureaucracy.