The Instrumentalization of Orthodoxy: The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) as a Soft Power Tool in Serbia
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study examines how the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) functions as a hybrid geopolitical apparatus within Russia’s soft power strategy, focusing exclusively on the Republic of Serbia. Historically, Russia’s influence in the Balkans has shifted from traditional political means toward cultural and religious engagement, establishing the ROC as a critical soft power actor leveraging the “Russian World” ideology and Pan-Orthodox solidarity. The Church frames this effort by positioning Russia as an alternative civilization model based on traditional values, directly countering the perceived moral decline of Europe. Beyond its role as a vehicle for state interests, the article argues that the ROC also acts as a strategic partner pursuing its own ecclesiastical leadership. The article analyzes the evolution of church-state relations to frame the ROC’s contemporary mission. The empirical analysis of Serbia reveals a multi-layered strategy designed to convert cultural ties into strategic advantage. First, the ROC leverages the structural constraint created by the NATO trauma (the 1999 bombing) to secure political support via UN Security Council veto support. Second, it provides the ideological foundation by aligning the Serbian Orthodox Church’s canonical claims over Kosovo with Moscow’s broader strategic challenge to the Euro-Atlantic order. Finally, the strategy is executed through a hybrid apparatus involving non-state proxies, including oligarchic finance and informal ties with nationalist paramilitary groups. Consequently, the ROC’s activities in Serbia are not merely a religious matter but represent a sophisticated mechanism of religious statecraft. This strategy is of critical importance for Russia’s multidimensional goals, such as challenging the rules-based Western order and regaining a sphere of influence in Southeastern Europe.
Author: Aslı Yiğit
Institution: Police Academy
Language: Turkish
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7204184388