13 research outputs found
A new ‘Great Schism'? Theopolitics of communion and canonical territory in the Orthodox Church
This article examines the recent ‘schism’ in Eastern Orthodoxy to show how religion and politics are strongly intertwined in disputes over territory and sovereignty. It argues that two logics are at play in this conflict: one grounded in the theological-political concept of ‘canonical territory’, the other in the notion of ‘communion’ at the basis of the Christian fellowship. The first is deployed in claims for national sovereignty as well as imperial domination, while the latter can make or break communities of faith. Drawing a parallel between the post-socialist revival of religion in Ukraine and the current mobilization on the ground, it shows how these contradictory logics shape the fate of people, churches and states.Published versio
Alliance persistence, military security, and the 2016 Brexit referendum : the case of Estonia and the United Kingdom
Published online: 21 March 2019Driedger assesses the development of military and security ties between Estonia and the United Kingdom between 2014 and 2018. Focusing on the 2016 Brexit referendum, he shows that, in contrast to previous assessments, these ties strengthened after the referendum. Driedger argues that this development is largely shaped by perceptions of increasing mutual alignment utility. He develops a new theoretical framework of security alignment strength and uses structured and focused comparison on a wide array of British, Estonian, and Russian sources, including interviews with defence officials and an analysis of key policy documents. As the case of Estonia resembles others in the region, this study yields crucial insights for assessing North-East European security, developing alliance theory and informing policy-making towards Russia in a time of populist crises