Join the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) for a talk with Dmitry Adamsky on the intertwining of the Russian Orthodox Church and Russia's armed forces. Adamsky argues in his book, "Russian Nuclear Orthodoxy," that a nuclear priesthood has arisen in Russia. From portable churches to the consecration of weapons systems, the Russian Orthodox Church has been integrated into every facet of the armed forces to become a vital part of Russian national security, politics, and identity. This extraordinary intertwining of church and military is nowhere more visible than in the nuclear weapons community, where the priesthood has penetrated all levels of command and the Church has positioned itself as a guardian of the state's nuclear potential. "Russian Nuclear Orthodoxy" considers how, since the Soviet collapse in 1991, the Church has worked its way into the Russian military and its nuclear forces, the most significant wing of one of the world's most powerful military organizations. The book highlights the sources and implications of this unique phenomenon for international security, and sheds light on the role of faith in modern militaries. Registration is required; information can be found on the event site.

Speakers:

Dmitry (Dima) Adamsky, professor, School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at the IDC Herzliya, Israel

Michael Kofman (discussant), senior research scientist, Russia Studies Program, CNA

Jeffrey Mankoff (moderator), senior fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program, CSIS