(Dis)Organised Charity
Church Social Work in Russia
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
The break with Communism in Russia after 1991 led to serious social problems that exist to this day. The state’s social system is not in a position to solve them. Numerous non-state organisations try to fill the vacuum in the social realm. Churches play an important role. The Russian Orthodox Church has enormous social and political influence but little experience in social work. It lacks system and structure. The Roman Catholic Church by contrast is structured and professional in its social work, but it has to struggle with its dependency on foreign do-nors and its uncertain position on Russian territory.
(Osteuropa 6/2009, pp. 249–260)