02/07/2026 17:20 - 19:30

HALL: Pola - Aula Magna

Contact: Mandaville P.

Chair: Wilson E.

Religion has re-emerged as a central element in contemporary geopolitical competition, serving not merely as a source of identity or values but as a strategic asset deployed by states seeking to expand influence and challenge liberal democratic norms. This panel examines the instrumentalization of religion in international relations, with particular focus on how the Russian Federation leverages religious actors, narratives, and networks as components of its soft and sharp power strategies within the framework of global culture wars.
The panel brings together three complementary perspectives to illuminate this phenomenon. The first paper establishes the broader context by mapping the contemporary landscape of religious geopolitics, analyzing how multiple state and non-state actors employ religion to advance political objectives, build transnational coalitions, and contest normative frameworks around issues including gender, sexuality, family, and secularism. The second paper focuses specifically on Moscow's strategic deployment of religion in its external relations. It examines how Russian state actors and religious institutions—particularly the Russian Orthodox Church—collaborate to project influence abroad, positioning Russia as a defender of "traditional values" against Western liberalism. This analysis explores the mechanisms, narratives, and diplomatic channels through which religious discourse is integrated into Russian foreign policy objectives. The third paper provides a critical regional case study of Russian religious influence operations in the Global South. Drawing on field research and policy analysis, it investigates how Russian actors cultivate relationships with religious leaders and institutions across regions such as Africa and Latin America, leveraging both Orthodox Christianity and inter-religious dialogue to advance geopolitical interests, challenge Western influence, and build networks of support for Moscow's global positioning.