Religion, Politics and Nation-Building in Post-Communist Countries Post-Soviet Politics Series

The increasing significance and visibility of relationships between religion and public arenas and institutions following the fall of communism in Europe provide the core focus of this fascinating book. Leading international scholars consider the religious and political role of Christian Orthodoxy in the Russian Federation, Romania, Georgia and Ukraine alongside the revival of old, indigenous religions, often referred to as 'shamanistic' and look at how, despite Islam?s long history and many adherents in the south, Islamophobic attitudes have increasingly been added to traditional anti-Semitic, anti-Western or anti-liberal elements of Russian nationalism. Contrasts between the church?s position in the post-communist nation building process of secular Estonia with its role in predominantly Catholic Poland are also explored. Religion, Politics and Nation-Building in Post-Communist Countries gives a broad overview of the political importance of religion in the Post-Soviet space but its interest and relevance extends far beyond the geographical focus, providing examples of the challenges in the spheres of public, religious and social policy for all transitional countries.

Introduction, GregSimons, DavidWesterlund; Chapter 1 Religious Diplomacy in International and Inter-Orthodox Relations, GregSimons; Chapter 2 Religious, Cultural and Political Dimensions of Winter-Bathing in Russia, Per-ArneBodin; Chapter 3 ‘Orthodoxy or Death!’, MariaEngström; Chapter 4 Shamanism, Politics and Ethnos-Building in Russia, OlleSundström; Chapter 5 The Approved and the Disapproved Islam in Russia, KaarinaAitamurto; Chapter 6 Islamic Opposition in Azerbaijan, SofieBedford; Chapter 7 Religion and Nation-Building in Estonia, RingoRingvee; Chapter 8 Church and State Relations in Poland, with Special Focus on the Radio Station Mary, KonradP?dziwiatr; Chapter 9 Majority, Minorities and Religious Pluralism in Romania, CatalinIonete; Chapter 101 Comparative Conclusions and Wider Implications, GregSimons, DavidWesterlund;

Dr Greg Simons holds a doctoral degree from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. He is currently employed at Crismart (Crisis Management Research and Training) in the Swedish National Defence College and at the Uppsala Centre for Russian and Eurasian Studies (Uppsala University). Professor David Westerlund has a Ph.D. degree in the History of Religions from Stockholm University. He is Professor in the Study of Religions at Södertörn University in Stockholm. His research interests include modern Islam and Christianty, particularly Pentecostalism, in Africa and Europe. Thematically, he is specialised on issues of religion and health, inter-religious relations, religion and politics, historiography and religious revival movements.