The challenges of Religious Pluralism in Post-Soviet Russia
Abstract
After demonstrating that religious diversity in Russia is due both to
the multinational character of the Russian Federation and to
processes of increased globalization, this introduction to the issue of
religious pluralism in post-Soviet Russia describes the logic of certain
socio-religious tensions in the country. It emphasizes two essential
problems of managing religious plurality: Islam and new religious
movements. It shows how the model of “laïcité” has developed during
the past decade, with the Russian State oscillating between various
types of legitimization which are related to its heterogeneous cultural
heritage. It also analyses how the Russian-Orthodox Church has
opposed religious individualization by referring to a communal
religion.