Cover Osteuropa 7-10/2015

In Osteuropa 7-10/2015

Religion, Purity, Radicalisation
On the End of the Multi-confessional Alaverdoba Festival in Georgia

Florian Mühlfried


Deutsche Fassung

Abstract

Public space in Georgia has been becoming charged in a national-religious spirit for some years. This sacralisation process is pushing non-Georgian Orthodox minorities from local communities. This is seen in the example of the folk festival in east Georgian Alaverdi. There, a centuries-old, transconfessional coexistence between Muslims and Christians is coming undone under pressure from church leaders. This could lead to mutual radicalisation.

(Osteuropa 7-10/2015, pp. 587–598)