Racing against Time: Varying Patterns of Social Mobilization in Serbia and Georgia

Metreveli, Tornike (3 August 2016). Racing against Time: Varying Patterns of Social Mobilization in Serbia and Georgia (Unpublished)

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After the collapse of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, a number of actors started to engage in the power struggle for the opportunities to shape the new order in successive nation-states. In Serbia and Georgia historically hegemonic Orthodox Christian churches were among the firsts in the frontlines for political and economic power. More than a decade has passed since the so-called Coloured Revolutions in Georgia and Serbia, and the Orthodox churches still remain participants of an ongoing socio-political transition of these states. The revival of public role of religion appeared temporary in Serbia followed by a gradual decline of an influence of the Orthodox Church over political life and legal process. However, in Georgia the public and political role of religion increased rather than declined albeit changed shape. Examining the degree to which the two Orthodox churches can influence the political agenda in Serbia and Georgia, the paper attempts to understand how church-State relations work in practice. By bringing rich empirical data from the field (70 interviews with (arch)bishops, priests and religious clerics in Georgia and Serbia added to field observations), the paper reflects on the themes under which the two Orthodox churches mobilize public protest in Serbia and Georgia. The paper further looks at varying State responses and their broader implication for church-state problematique.

Item Type:	Working Paper
Division/Institute:	03 Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences > Social Sciences > Institute of Sociology
UniBE Contributor:	Metreveli, Tornike
Subjects:	300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology 300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 320 Political science 300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services
Language:	English
Submitter:	Tornike Metreveli
Date Deposited:	11 May 2016 14:29
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:54
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/80113