“Soft Power” of Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan: Narratives, Objectives, Potential
Malgarayeva Z. Temirbayeva A. Kenzhegulov N. Alimkulova S.
2025Routledge
Journal of Religious and Theological Information
2025#24Issue 128 - 40 pp.
This paper examines the role and potential of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan as an instrument of “soft power”. It analyzes the religious landscape in Kazakhstan, the history and resources of Orthodoxy in the country, narratives promoted by the Orthodox Church, and its relationship to the Russian state’s foreign policy interests. Statistical data shows steady growth of Orthodox churches in Kazakhstan despite an overall decline in the ethnic Russian population. Interviews with clergy provide insights into Orthodoxy’s social outreach and cultivation of Russian culture. The paper argues that the Orthodox Church advances narratives that align with Russia’s ideological emphasis on traditional values, inter-faith dialogue, and pan-Russian identity. While Orthodoxy retains significant soft power capabilities, its effectiveness is constrained by wariness of its associations with Russia.
Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan , Orthodoxy , Religion and soft power , the Russian Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan
Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи
Department of Religious Studies, L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, 010008, 2 Satpayev Str., Astana, Kazakhstan
Department of Religious Studies, Egyptian University of Islamic Culture Nur-Mubarak, 050060, 73 Al-Farabi Avenue, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Department of Religious Studies
Department of Religious Studies
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026