«Православный пояс» на электоральной карте России в 2011-2021 годах

Социологическое обозрение. 2023. Т. 22. № 3. С. 172–195.

Андрей Щербак

The article explores the relationship between Orthodox religiosity and voting in Russia in 2011–2021. Using the theoretical framework of de-secularization from above which claims that church structures play a key role in the religious renaissance policy, we argue that the rise of the political inguence of the ROC (Russian Orthodox Church) may be explained by its capacity for the dissemination of traditional values that ultimately results in votes for United Russia and President Vladimir Putin in national elections. This study reveals the emergence of a new area on Russia’s political map, that of the Orthodox belt, which combines higher levels of Orthodox religiosity and pro-Kremlin voting in national elections. Using multiple empirical strategies, we construct an index of religiosity on the regional level and identify the Orthodox Belt regions, test the relationship between Orthodox religiosity and voting in the national elections in 2011–2018, and test the diherences in value orientations and electoral support between the Orthodox Belt regions and others. We conclude that non-Orthodox Belt regions in Russia with higher Orthodox religiosity, conservatism, and loyalty are an emerging trend in the Russian political geography.

Keywords: Russian Orthodox Church, электоральное поведение, выборы в России, religiosity, религиозность, social conservatism, социальный консерватизм, elections in Russia, Русская Православная Церковь, Orthodox Belt, desecularization theory, "православный пояс", теория десекуляризации

Publication based on the results of: Impact of Crises and Reforms on People's Attitudes and Behavior (2023)