Orthodoxy and political thought in Contemporary Russia

The Impacts of Communism and Orthodoxy in Russia

Since the ancient eras of the early 20s, Russia has extensively undergone a series of related changes in its economic progression due to the incorporation of variated tactics by the government. However, Communism remains the most compelling causal agent towards economic changes and other life-changing practices in Russia, even in contemporary Russian society. Technically, the application of Communism by the government as the central objective within parastatals and public offices exposed the country to significant effects affecting citizens across the country. First, the idea of classes is extensively evident in Russian societies due to the borrowing of Marxism by its government. Some social changes have been generated by the escalation of the orthodoxy power upon churches in Russia. The idea of conversion to Christianity and believing in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ continue to influence both the political and social spheres of Russian society.

Effects of Communism in Russia

Although the ending of the Soviet Union in 1991dismantled the compelling influence of Communism, traces of these impacts can still be felt in present-day Russian society; first, the government’s management and governance of industries, including agricultural sectors, exposed individuals to a series of interrelated economic and social crises. First, this means that the poor continued to be poor while the rich maintained their dominance in society (Novokmet et al., 2018). Individuals who run the collective farms enrich themselves at the expense of others, creating significant social classes that are noticeable in contemporary society. From an individualized perspective, industries and farmlands created room for people to expand their economic success. Thus, giving the government ownership of these lands prevented them from excising their abilities to grow and expand their farms, thus affecting the quality of their lives. The objective of abolishing private property under Communism was a significant move towards expanding the poverty rates among low-social-economic individuals. Giving these lands and properties to the peasants meant that everyone would be equal, especially under the leadership of Lenin. In extension, Communism influenced economic liberty, increasing the rate of individuals in the country and maintaining classes effectively. According to Almond (2019), the presence of classes in modern Russian society indicates the effects of Communism gained from the Soviet Union on the novel Russian society.

However, Communism had positive impacts, primarily when the equality of minorities and majorities was concerned. For illustration, equal rights were given to top men and women under Communism. Technically, this influenced how women and men relate to each other in Russia. The elevation of women working in white and blue-collar jobs indicates the effect of Communism in Russia. There is an elevation of women engaging in political matters due to the presence of early literacy programs run under the communist party. From a penetrative lens, equality in voting presented a significant influence on Russian society’s political and social sphere. Like men, women can engage in any economic activity, thus enjoying equal liberties like their peers, which is not present in many countries despite the development of democracy and equality.

Religion in Russia during the communist era was effectively affected as Christianity was against Communism. The religious movement was against Communism as people lacked adequate housing facilities, poor means of transport, and factory systems, affecting the economic state and agricultural sectors. The worsening of these conditions resulted in a revolution where Communist Atheists destroyed churches. Notably, in 1921, more than ten thousand religious leaders were arrested, and at least two thousand churches were shot. During the era of Stalin, the permission of the USSR Criminal Code permitted the death and imprisonment of children above twelve years (Smith, 2018). During this time, guards arrested, jailed, and raped children in prisons. Thus, Communism presented significant concerns resulting in the crumbling of the economic state and negative influence on social lives affecting people across all age groups.

Effects of Orthodoxy in Russia

Orthodoxy has had a significant influence in Russia in social and political spheres. First, the church’s influence on literature and arts is evident in modern Russian society. Many individuals influenced by the Orthodoxy religion found an outlet for their spiritual and emotional feelings through the church resulting in artistic revival. The converted Christians used art and literature to express their devout beliefs (Zabaev et al., 2018). Thus, the church enhanced arts and literature instead of destroying and opening novel paths to expression. Thus, there is a pile of religious books, complications of sermons, and service books in the modern Russian community. This is a significant move towards demonstrating the effectiveness of the Orthodox religion and why Christianity is crucial. It was through religion and self-expression that they were able to rise against the communist regime of the USSR.

Additionally, the acceptance of Christianity into political spheres effectively resulted in significant changes through the conversion of political leaders into Orthodox Christians. Byzantine and Roman religious versions were effectively englacial in Europe’s east and western sides. Most of the converted Russian political leaders began to view Christianity’s benefits, which extended beyond the spiritual realms (Davis, 2018). The location of Russia allowed it to have options for both Christianity and Islamic religions. Notably, the introduction of the orthodoxy religions was more influential in igniting social changes and moving towards the fight of societal concerns. The church in Russia acted as a solid platform for speaking against the vices and poor policies made by the government.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, orthodoxy Christianity and Communism have had a significant influence on Russia, especially whine insights drawn from the eras of the USSR regime. However, Christianity stands as an essential move towards the eradication of Communism by sparking insights among individuals on some of the policies given by the USSR government. The orthodoxy religion has changed both social lives in communities of modern Russia, creating fundamental grounds for achieving positive changes among individuals. Thus, people have managed to express their spiritual and cultural understandings advancing both literature and arts.

Farida Musayeva
Farida Musayeva
Graduate Student in the School of Politics and International Relations at East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.