DEKLARACIJA SVESRPSKOG SABORA: SRPSKA PRAVOSLAVNA CRKVA KAO DUH VJERE ILI POLITIČKA SILA
DECLARATION OF THE ALL-SERBIAN COUNCIL: THE SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH AS A SPIRIT OF FAITH OR A POLITICAL FORCE

Author(s): Samir Sinanović
Subject(s): Governance, Eastern Orthodoxy, Sociology of Religion, Geopolitics
Published by: Institut za istraživanje zločina protiv čovječnosti i međunarodnog prava Univerziteta u Sarajevu
Keywords: Bosnia and Herzegovina; Serbia; declaration; Serbian Orthodox Church; religion; politics; crimes; sovereignty; nationalism; denial;
Summary/Abstract: The paper analyzes the role of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) in the Declaration of the All-Serbian Assembly, emphasizing that the SOC functions not only as a religious institution but also as a significant political and cultural actor. Through historical analysis, it demonstrates how the SOC has played a key role across various periods in preserving the identity of the Serbian people, as well as in shaping political and nationalist views. Representatives of the SOC propagated the idea of a “Greater Serbia” and justified the crimes that would be committed during the aggression against the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. In the post-Dayton period, the SOC intensified its presence in the public sphere, often overlapping religious discourse with national and political narratives, including the denial of the genocide against Bosniaks. Church dignitaries frequently make public statements on political issues, including relations with the state ofBosnia and Herzegovina. Such actions by the SOClegitimize national policies, particularly those aimed at preserving the autonomy of the entity, often framed through the lens of Serbian ethno-confessional identity. The paper highlights the institutional and symbolic mechanisms through which the SOC exerts influence – including its presence in the educational system, collaboration with political parties, and the use of religious holidays and symbolsfor political purposes. Special emphasisis placed on the concept of the Church’s “symbolic power,” which is manifested through the authority religious institutions hold in shaping social values and norms. The role of the SOC goes beyond traditional religious functions. It becomes a political subject that actively participates in the creation of collective identity, the formation of public opinion, and influence over political decisions. This position raises important questions about the boundaries between religion and politics, as well asthe implicationssuch a relationship hasfor democratic processes and social cohesion in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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