Orthodoxy, Islam, and the Desecularization of Russia’s State Schools

This article explores the social origins and consequences of Orthodox-Muslim tensions surrounding the attempts to find a place for religion in Russia’s state schools. It demonstrates that the Orthodox-Muslim tensions are an inevitable outcome of what we define as Russia’s pattern of “desecularization from above.” The attempts to restore religious education are carried out by alliances of top religious and political elites, which almost by default focus on the state-run schools. These attempts run into serious social and institutional constraints, and generate considerable Orthodox-Muslim tensions and controversies spilling over to public opinion. On the surface, the Orthodox-Muslim tensions often appear in the form ironically resembling “culture wars” between religious traditionalists and secularists in the West. Our survey data indicate that public support for religious instruction in staterun schools has reached high levels and is infused with a noticeable element of religious intolerance. We predict that further attempts to desecularize Russia’s state schools “from above” may have destabilizing effects in society and fuel ethno-religious tensions.