What is Divine Diplomacy?
Divine Diplomacy provides timely analytical coverage of political and religious events affecting the Orthodox world.
The Russian aggression in Ukraine or monumental shifts in Balkan politics can’t be fully grasped without insight and knowledge of religious actors' interests in the respective regions.
Think About This: Putin’s aggression on Ukraine happened after Ukraine was allowed its independent church, resulting in cutting ties with Patriarch Kirill in Moscow and pulling Ukraine out of the Russian World.
The role of the Orthodox Church in domestic and international politics has dramatically increased in the past two decades, and the ideals of a symphonic relationship between the state and the church have never been abandoned.
Who is this for?
1. This Substack publication makes a great choice for individuals who follow world politics, recognise the importance of religion in politics and would like to learn more about the often well-gated Orthodox world.
2. It is a great resource that supports people working in government and organisations in understanding the geopolitical and security risks of the functioning of the Orthodox church.
3. Divine Diplomacy is also a valuable resource for the scholars' community and students researching Orthodoxy and politics.
Why subscribe?
Weekly digest: We dive into the clippings of important news from the Orthodox world with (geo)political ramifications. The weekly digest provides unparalleled access to the latest stories you need to watch for with brief English summaries. It cuts through the noise, offering you an understanding of the often highly evolving Orthodox politics.
Substack Notes - React with me in real-time on significant developments in the Orthodox World through Notes and Threads here on Substack.
OrthoArchive - Get access to my previous research and writing on Orthodox politics. See how Ukraine’s and North Macedonia’s autocephaly (church independence) unfolded in real time. Read through my immediate reactions to the Russian aggression on Ukraine in 2022 and the implications on Ukraine’s religious landscape.
Your support holds significant importance for me. It allows me to continue my research and writing on a topic that I am genuinely passionate about. Currently, the Substack is offered completely for free. Any donation (paid subscription) towards it would be greatly appreciated.
Access to specialised resources like Christian magazines, journals, and reputable newspaper sources is vital for my work, but these materials can carry a hefty price tag. By becoming a paid member or founding member, you will greatly assist in reducing my monthly financial burdens. Your contribution is invaluable and allows me to pursue my important work.
Thank you for considering and supporting my work.
What People Are Saying:
Orthodoxy in Dialogue recommends [Divine Diplomacy] as an important resource for up-to-the-minute news and commentary on church politics in traditionally Orthodox nations.
Giacomo Sanfilippo - Editor (Orthodoxy in Dialogue)
Who am I?
With almost 15 years of experience in providing bespoke research, intelligence and advice on political and security matters affecting Eastern Europe and globally, I am confident that my analytical skills are sufficiently versatile to offer you a 360 angle of the importance of the Orthodox Church as a (geo)political actor.
As a freelance journalist, I cover religion and politics, focusing on the Orthodox and Catholic spheres in Eastern Europe, Russia, and the Balkans. I have written extensively for The Tablet and Church Times (UK), The National, Balkan Insight, Kyiv Post, Public Orthodoxy and others. Check out my portfolio.
In 2022, I completed my PhD at the University of Buckingham (UK), where I examined church independence movements in Orthodox-majority countries in South/Eastern Europe. My PhD thesis examined the autocephaly cases in Ukraine, North Macedonia and Montenegro. I was lucky to witness 2/3 getting autocephaly. It was a fascinating period to research in real-time, a process that takes hundreds of years.
Before that, for many years, I worked as a Research Fellow at the Skopje-based think-tank “Analytica”, focusing on security issues affecting the security and stability of North Macedonia and the Western Balkans, where I authored publications on Security Sector Reforms and intelligence governance. I completed a Master's degree at King’s College London's War Studies Department in 2013.
My experience in strategic forecast has been evident on a number of occasions, and I have offered advice and developed realistic scenarios for governments and international organisations, as well as individuals, on events of geopolitical magnitude as well as micro-level developments which have been affecting their interests. If you'd like to discuss how my expertise might support your work, feel free to message me at [bogdanovski.a [at] gmail.com] or here on Substack.
I am a seasoned media commentator with appearances on BBC, Al-Jazeera, TRT, Ta-Nea, El Confidencial, Nova Makedonija and others.
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Andreja Bogdanovski
Founder and Editor
Divine Diplomacy
