Watch the webinar!
Religion and nationalism in Russia
Marko Veković, a lecturer in political science at the University of Belgrade and an alumnus of the 2015 cohort, explored the concept of the Russki Mir — the Russian World. This ideology, rooted in the ninth century and revived under Putin, combines Russian Orthodox values with imperial nationalism.
Veković demonstrated how the church is not an independent actor in this regard, but rather an instrument of the state.
The Second Coming of Trump
Daniel Nilsson DeHanas, a reader in Politics and Religion at King’s College London and a 2008 alumnus, took the audience through his recent research into the spiritual dimensions of Trump’s populism.
Drawing on memes and posts on Truth Social — the platform Trump set up after being banned from Twitter — he examined how supporters portray the president as a messianic figure: destined for a final battle between good and evil.
Conclusion
Together, the two speakers outlined how religion and politics continue to reinforce one another worldwide — whether it be the Orthodox churches in Eastern Europe or the evangelical movements in the United States.
UCSIA Summer School on Religion, Culture and Society
This year, the UCSIA Summer School will take place in the last week of August in Antwerp. Young researchers (PhD students and postdocs) with an interest in religion and digital culture can apply until 20 April 2026.