ABSTRACT

The conflict in Eastern Ukraine and the European refugee crisis have led to a dramatic increase in forced displacement across Europe. Fleeing war and violence, millions of refugees and internally displaced people face the social and political cultures of the predominantly Christian Orthodox countries in the post-Soviet space and Southeastern Europe. This book examines the ambivalence of Orthodox churches and other religious communities, some of which have provided support to migrants and displaced populations while others have condemned their arrival. How have religious communities and state institutions engaged with forced migration? How has forced migration impacted upon religious practices, values and political structures in the region? In which ways do Orthodox churches promote human security in relation to violence and ‘the other’? The book explores these questions by bringing together an international team of scholars to examine extensive material in the former Soviet states (Ukraine, Russia, Georgia and Belarus), Southeastern Europe (Turkey, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania), Western Europe and the United States.

chapter |22 pages

Introduction

Eastern Orthodoxy, forced migration and human security; concepts and policy perspectives

part I|1 pages

Religion, migration and human security in the former Soviet states

chapter 2|40 pages

The Russian Orthodox Church, human security, migration and refugees

Concepts, strategies and actions

chapter 3|20 pages

The state’s guardian angel?

The Georgian Orthodox Church and human security

chapter 4|18 pages

The Russian–Ukrainian conflict and the European refugee crisis

The policies of state and church and civil society in Belarus

part II|1 pages

Religion, migration and human security in Southeastern Europe

chapter 6|43 pages

The Orthodox Church of Greece

Church–state relations, migratory patterns and sociopolitical challenges

chapter 7|22 pages

The humanitarian engagement of faith-based organisations in Serbia

Balancing between the Vulnerable Human and the (In)Secure (Nation)State

part III|1 pages

Eastern Orthodoxy and migration in Western Europe and the United States

chapter 10|15 pages

From Orthodox migrants to the migration of the Orthodox church(es)

Making sense of the Orthodox presence in Western Europe

chapter 11|17 pages

Hospitality for strangers?

Policies and practices of Eastern Christian churches and charities in support of new migrants to the United States and refugees abroad