Orthodox Anti-Ecumenism as an Element of the Mobilization Model of Society: Political Aspects of Religious Fundamentalism

State, Religion and Church. 2021. Vol. 8. No. 2. P. 69–98.

Boris Knorre, Alexandra Zasyad’ko

Translator: P. Brown

This article explores the anti-ecumenical movement in Russian Ortho- doxy, its facets of religious separation and isolationism. The article analyzes the sociocultural and political premises on which the isola- tionist ideology of Orthodox fundamentalists relies, in particular de- fensiveness and security, both of which intertwine with revanchism, geopolitical resentment, and an idealization of the Soviet past. It also explores the cultural phenomenon of “mobilization consciousness” — a psychological conviction that positive transformation processes in Russia can only occur in circumstances of extreme stress and danger. The article also compares of key features of modern Orthodox funda- mentalists and radical right movements

Keywords: православие, секьюритизация, советские ценности, securitization, Orthodoxy, милитаризация, фундаментализм, militarization, Ecumenical movement, экуменическое движение, fundamentalism, мобилизационная модель, православный антиэкуменизм, Mobilization model, Orthodox anti-ecumenism, Soviet values

Publication based on the results of: The Monitoring of the state of civil society (Wave 17) (2022)