Russia in Ukraine: What’s Religion Got to Do with It?

Thursday, April 21
12:30 p.m. – 1: 30 p.m. ET (US) 
Zoom Webinar

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly invoked religion in an effort to justify the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

How, specifically, has Putin used religion—and in particular, Russian Orthodox Christianity—in his rhetoric? To what extent has it helped him build support for the war? How do such actions fit into a larger global context where political leaders at times seek to instrumentalize religion for ostensibly secular ends? And how is religion helping to address the human cost of the war, as religious NGOs provide assistance for Ukrainian refugees? 

In this discussion, hear insights from a panel of experts, who explored these questions together. 

Presented by the Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion and the Nanovic Institute for European Studies and co-sponsored by the Catholic Peacebuilding Network and the University of Notre Dame’s World Religions World Church program.

Panelists

 

Jose Casanova
Professor Emeritus
Georgetown University

 

 

Robert Crews
Professor of History
Stanford University

 

 

Annemarie Reilly
Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President for Strategy, Technology & Communications
Catholic Relief Services

 

 

Pavlo Smytsnyuk
Director, Institute of Ecumenical Studies
Ukrainian Catholic University

 

Moderator

Charles Powell
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Multifaith Engagement
Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion