The Sacred Battlefields of the Eastern Europe: The Role of Orthodox Christianity in Geopolitics

Brief Introduction

Is Orthodox Christianity primarily a tool or resource used by political entities, or does it act as an independent social force with the power to drive political outcomes? How does this religion, as a transnational force, shape global politics? The special issue "Sacred Battlefields: The Role of Orthodox Christianity in Geopolitics" seeks to address these overarching questions by exploring the complex and often understudied role of Orthodox Christianity in shaping geopolitical landscapes, particularly in Eastern and Southern Europe. This issue aims to bring together a diverse range of scholarly perspectives to analyze the ways in which Orthodox Christian traditions, doctrines, and institutions interact with, influence, and are influenced by the dynamics of nationhood, territorial disputes, and political power.

The scope of this special issue extends to various dimensions of the interplay between Orthodox Christianity and geopolitics. It includes, but is not limited to, the study of canonical territorial conflicts, the role of the church in state politics, the influence of religious identity, beliefs, legitimacy, and institutions in shaping social and political landscapes, and the impact of ecclesiastical decisions on international relations. To what extent can these religious elements influence or determine political and social outcomes? How have these dynamics been present historically, and how have they been reinforced or altered?

The issue will address historical contexts as well as contemporary situations, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of Orthodoxy in contemporary geopolitical affairs. Contributors are encouraged to approach the topic from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, including theology, sociology, political science, history, and international relations. We welcome empirical studies, theoretical analyses, and methodological contributions including qualitative, quantitative, comparative and case study approaches that shed light on how Orthodox Christianity shapes and is shaped by geopolitical contexts. 

This special issue aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between religion, nationalism, and territoriality, especially in regions where Orthodox Christianity is a dominant religious force. It seeks to provide new insights into how religious beliefs and institutions can become entangled with national and international political agendas, influencing everything from local community dynamics to international diplomatic relations.

Invitation

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to the special issue titled "The Sacred Battlefields: The Role of Orthodox Christianity in Geopolitics". This issue seeks to explore the complex and often understudied relationship between Orthodox Christianity and geopolitical dynamics, particularly in Eastern and Southern Europe. The ongoing war in Ukraine, among other regional tensions in the South Caucasus and the Middle East, underscores the critical need to understand the role of religious institutions and doctrines in shaping national and international politics. This area of research is not only timely, but also essential for understanding the broader implications of religious influences on contemporary geopolitical landscapes. This special issue aims to provide a platform for interdisciplinary scholarship that examines the intersections of Orthodox Christianity, national identity and territorial conflict within wider geopolitical context.

This special issue welcomes original research articles and reviews. Areas of research may include (but are not limited to) the following:

1. The impact of Orthodox Christian doctrines on national and international politics.
2. Canonical territorial conflicts within the Orthodox Church and their geopolitical implications.
3. Influence of religious identity, beliefs, legitimacy, and institutions in shaping social and political landscapes in Eastern and Southern Europe.
4. Historical and contemporary analyses of church-state relations in Orthodox Christian contexts.
5. Methodological approaches to the study of the interplay between religion and geopolitics.

Before submitting a manuscript, interested authors should first submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200-300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send this to the Guest Editors ([email protected]) or the Assistant Editor for Religions ([email protected]). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors to ensure that they fit within the scope of the special issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

Proposed deadlines:

    Abstract submission deadline: 15 January 2024
    Full manuscript deadline: 19 May 2024

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Tornike Metreveli
Dr. Emil Bjørn Hilton Saggau
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• orthodox Christianity
• geopolitics
• nationalism
• canonical territorial conflicts
• church-state relations
• eastern Europe
• southern Europe
• canonical territoriality
• religious influence
• political power