“Slicing Off the Tumour”: The History of Global Jihad in Nigeria, as Narrated by the Islamic State

Author(s): Andrea Brigaglia / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2018

This paper provides a detailed summary and analysis of “Slicing Off the Tumour,” a text written by two sons of Muhammad Yusuf (d. 2009), founder of the Nigerian Jihadi movement known as “Boko Haram,” and recently (2018) published by the Islamic State. The paper argues that although obviously biased, this book provides important insights into the history of Jihad in Nigeria as seen through the lenses of Global Jihadi actors, which the analysts should not dismiss. In the conclusion, the author questions the heuristic usefulness of the term “Boko Haram” in the literature on local and global manifestations of Jihad in contemporary Nigeria. Finally, the author locates his position in the recent debate around the nature of the global links entertained by Nigerian Jihadi actors and around the role of these links in the development of the “Boko Haram phenomenon.”

Југославија и Ватикан

Author(s): Aleksandar Markovic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 5/2013

Приказ/Review: Пеђа Радосављевић, Односи између Југославије и Свете Столице (дипломатски односи 1963 ‒ 1978), ,,Службени гласник”, Београд, 2011.

Српска нација – порекло и етос српског национализма

Author(s): Ðuro Bodrožic´ / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 4/2009

Each and every nation, in order to survive and be preserved as an entity, ought to have a spiritual “buckle” keeping them together. Such “buckle” Serbian people have found in their national church that had been established by Saint Sava under the order of the Constantinople Patriarchy and in accord with the canon laws of the Orthodox Church. In this way the basis for the emergence of one autochthonous national culture had been created, the culture that could not exist without national language being used in the church. By establishment of the Autonomous Serbian Church Saint Sava became the founder of Serbian nation. The thing keeping the people together and in moral unity has not been their common origin, but their common faith. When the faith had been divided, there came the division of the peoples, too, and they never came back together after that. Saint Sava, together with his father, had determined historical destiny of his nation when he opted to choose the Byzantine Orthodoxy that has not contributed to denationalization, among its other traits.

Српска православна дијаспора и јединство Православне цркве у САД

Author(s): Miroljub Jevtic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 4/2010

On one territory or in one town can exist only one diocese according to the orthodox ecclesiology. Precisely speaking, it is not good for two orthodox jurisdictions to coincide at the same territory. This fact is not respected in case of the USA, Australia or Western Europe. Therefore, there is more then one diocese in one city, which coincides with each other. If we perceive the position of Serbian Orthodox Church from that point of view, we will very often find on the same territory Serbian Orthodox Church along with other Orthodox jurisdictions of lawfully recognized Orthodox Churches. So, on the same territory we can find Greek, Serbian, Bulgarian, Russian and other Orthodox Churches. On the other side OCA (Orthodox Church in America) has been established in order to gather all Orthodox worshipers in the USA, but so far it has managed to gather only lesser part of Orthodox worshipers. By far most of Orthodox worshipers stayed connected to national churches such as Greek, Serbian, Bulgarian etc. But, on the other hand it is obvious that this Church would like to reintegrate all Orthodox worshipers in the USA. From that point of view, it is clear that interests of Serbian Orthodox Church, as well as other Orthodox Churches, are opposite to politics of OCA (Orthodox Church in America).

Српски црквени часописи о организацији, ширењу и дјеловању комунизма у Краљевини СХС/Југославији (1920–1940)

Author(s): Nebojša Maleševic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 2/2017

The primary intention of the paper is to show Communism organization, expansion and operation followed by Serbian Church magazines between 1920 and 1940 in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes / Yugoslavia. The author, will by analyzing all available and the relevant church newspapers from that period show how the Serbian Church magazines reacted to Communism. Special attention will be paid to the organization, expansion and (secret) action of the Communists since the founding of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (KPY) and the Young Communist League of Yugoslavia (SKOJ) until the beginning of World War II. Communism, at the time, was a new political philosophy which was developed as a child of socialism versus capitalism. Communism slowly came to the scene of the new state which was founded after World War I. Communism using the still young, economically weaken, and we can say insufficiently organized, multinational and multi-religious Kingdom, slowly, with a great discipline of his supporters and good organization expanded its field of action. In this paper, we will talk about it, whether, and how, Serbian church magazine recognized organization and expansion of the new political thinking and how it commented on itture.

СРПСТВО ДВОВЕРНИХ ДАЛМАТИНСКИХ СРБА (НА ПРИМЕРУ МАРКА МУРАТА И НИКОДИМА МИЛАША)

Author(s): Radoš Ljušic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 2/2012

The author examines the issue of religious partition of the Serbian people from the Middle Ages until the 1930s. Division along the religious lines may be generally observed everywhere on the territory inhabited by the Serbs. Yet, the author decides for the most part to focus on the Serbs of Dalmatia, Dubrovnik and Boka Kotorska in the XIX and at the beginning of the XX century, and on their adherence to either Orthodox, or Roman-Catholic Christianity. The religion could have played both the consolidating and the disintegrative role in formation of the Serbian nation, and the author explores these options, studying the beliefs and convictions of two prominent Serbs of the time: Roman-Catholic Marko Murat and Orthodox bishop Nikodim Milaš. In the end, the author deliberates on three Serbian misapprehensions with respect to the relation between the religion and the Serbian nation.

Ставови исламских заједница у Србији према Израелу

Author(s): Miroljub Jevtic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 4/2013

Nowadays, there are three Islamic communities(IC) on Serbia’s territory: „Islamic community of Serbia”; „Islamic Community in Serbia „and” Islamic community of Kosovo”. All of them have political attitudes towards important political questions. From the aspect of Islamic religion and world most important political issue is the question of Palestine, or Jerusalem. Therefore, this is important question for Serbia’s Muslims too. If we have in mind that the attitude towards Palestine is dogmatic one, it is clear that the general attitude towards this question must be based on Islamic dogma. And Islamic dogma is clear- Islam must spread on entire world. However, we can see that spreading of Islam is connected to spreading of Islamic state. Therefore, Islamic state cannot accept the existence of Israel as permanent fact. It means that every Islamic community is against the existence of Israel. The problem is that this fact cannot be always stated in public. Therefore, Islamic communities in Serbia try to level their statements towards the Israel’s future. We will start with „Islamic community of Serbia”. This community is bounded with territory of Serbia and it needs to have good cooperation with state. That’s why it aims to have statements which would not be different from official Serbia’s politics. Official politics of Serbia is that Israel should have its right to existence is safe boundaries. When we have this fact in mind, it is clear that we should analyze public statements from IC of Serbia officers, in order to find how the general Islamic view towards Israel is expressed. On the other hand, we have” IC in Serbia”. The center of this community is in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Sarajevo, and due to that, this community can express its attitude towards Palestinian question more freely. Its attitudes are in general the attitudes of IC in Bosnia and Herzegovina too, but as „ Islamic community in Serbia” is based in Serbia it can be used as a single subject of research. In this work the author will point out the attitudes of this community towards Israel with regards on differences between these two communities, „Islamic community of Serbia” and „Islamic Community in Serbia „ which are operating in Central Serbia. Third Islamic community in Serbia is IC of Kosovo. It operates on a part of Serbia’s territory which declared independence from Serbia and tend to be fully recognized state. Therefore, IC of Kosovo follows the authorities in Prishtina. Prishtina authority’s main ally is USA. Also, USA is the most important ally of Israel. Due to that, IC of Kosovo tends to hide its attitude towards Israel. This community believes that Israel should be eliminated, but on the other hand successfully keep away from saying it openly. This is more important if we know the fact that Wahhabism is in constant progress in Kosovo.

Становище православ’я на Волині у першій половині ХХ століття

Author(s): Olga Viktorovna Bilyavtseva,Iryna M. Zagorovska / Language(s): Ukrainian / Issue: 4/2010

The article considers the fate of Orthodoxy in Volyn in the first half of the twentieth century. Mentioned a number of documents relating to freedom of conscience, who long ignored the ruling. Select the three main areas of influence of the Bolsheviks to the believing population through: destruction of material resources, the mass closure of churches, splitting activity and harassment of clergy. The attention to the repression of monks and monasteries.

Становлення релігійної свободи на українських землях

Author(s): Igor Valerievich Bogdanovsky / Language(s): Ukrainian / Issue: 29/2012

The article is devoted to the history of the struggle for religious tolerance in the Russian Empire and the USSR. We also consider the legislative freedom of conscience and religion in our country.

Старообрядчество и власть в постсоветской России

Author(s): I. I. Verniaev / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 19/2017

The paper discusses the main achievements and problems in the relationship of Old Believer communities and the state in the last quarter of a century — in the post-Soviet period of Russian history. Old Believers communities came to the beginning of this stage of its history largely weakened. Accordingly, there were pressing task of revival, increasing a number of parishes, reconstruction of religious infrastructure, development of new models of relations with the state, the Russian Orthodox Church and the society. The paper considers the postsoviet key legislation in religious sphere and its impact on the Old Believers communities, legal opportunities and restrictions for as Old Believers, their adapting to state policy at both the federal and at the regional level. The article analyzes both positive aspects of the relationship of the Old Believers and state and conflict issues between them. Special attention is paid to the discussions within the Old Believer community regarding the optimal balance between, on the one hand, the autonomy of churches and, on the other hand, their openness, proximity and contacts with government agencies, other religions, society as a whole. It is concluded that the basic conditions for the development of the Old Believers’ confessions, the most important problems are solved in the last decades. Currently, further development of the Old Believers’ confessions depends on their internal efforts and resources to increase community network, the integration of the churches as a whole, the development of all components of religious infrastructure, achievement of financial independence, creating their own system of education, and training of church personnel.

СУФИЙСКИЕ ТАРИКАТЫ В ТУРЕЦКОЙ РЕСПУБЛИКЕ (1923–1950 ГГ. )

Author(s): Ilshat Gabitovich Saetov / Language(s): Russian / Issue: 3 (2)/2013

The article outlines the situation around Sufi brotherhoods in the period of dissolution of the Sublime Porte and analyses in general the condition of Islam and Sufis under the secular regime in 1923–1950, i.e. in the period of the most aggressive actions of laicists during the post-Ottoman regime in Turkey.

Схвaтање о извору и пореклу државне власти – прилог изучавању политичке философије Немањића

Author(s): Borislav D. Grozdic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 1/2016

Author of the paper principally analyzes the question of understanding the source and origin of state power in the Nemanjic’s political philosophy of Serbia, and what follows from such a conception. It covers the period from the foundation of an independent Nemanjic’s state to its end. For the reconstruction of understanding of the origin and source of authority in Nemanjic’s Serbia the Serbian written heritage from Nemanjic dynasty period, primarily legal documents and then the original texts of literature (Serbian hagiography, liturgies, chronicles and genealogies, etc.) and others were used. It is known that Nemanjic’s Serbia inherited political philosophy of the Eastern Roman Empire, and so the idea of the divine origin of power in medieval Serbian political views, and beliefs, is accepted from the Eastern Roman Empire. Political phenomena are perceived within the Christian-Orthodox theological view of the world, so the Serbian medieval political philosophy, as well as the Eastern Roman Empire’s one, was based on the idea of God as absolute political factor. This is emphasized in every act of the state authorities and other medieval written sources. According to the Christian standpoint every authority comes from God, and so the state power has a divine origin. This view is found in the Bible, and the Old and New Testament. Every government is in foreknowledge of God, either with the will of God, which means in accordance with the law of God, or upon the permission of God. Conforming to both conceptions supreme source, the state government has a lofty goal and it is ultimately care about the salvation of souls subjects. From the divine source of authority does not follow the absolutist power of state rulers, on the contrary, Holy fathers without exception emphasize the limitation of state sovereignty. From Stefan Nemanja all the Nemanjic rulers were considered by the “grace of God”. The idea of the divine origin of authority arises a sort of understanding of the duties of rulers in the Middle Ages and the meaning of his reign, coming down to: the service God and care for servants. The Christian idea of the divine origin of power and ruler as God’s chosen individual subjects obliges Christians to comply, but only as long as it does not affect the faith, and in the event of collision, applies the principle of “Always must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5, 29). According to the Orthodox, Eastern Roman Empire’s understanding of political power, it was understood primarily and consistently as a service (serving), serving God and serving servants for the sake of God. From the founder of the sacrosanct the Nemanjic’s dynasty Stefan Nemanja in the areng of Hilandar’s founding Charter, the Serbian medieval political philosophy is based on the understanding of the place and the position of the Serbian rulers in relation to the Eastern Roman emperor and the neighboring rulers, such as the power received directly by the grace of God. There is almost universal agreement that the medieval Serbian state is a characteristic symphony of spiritual and secular powers, respectively, of the Church and the State. The idea of the divine origin of power, as well as other ideas, beliefs and values that safeguard Serbian medieval writings from the time of Nemanjic’s Serbia, based in the Orthodox Holy Father spiritual tradition, may be useful for contemporary Serbian political thought. Primarily because they indicate and resolve the spiritual dimension of political issues, which is impermissibly neglected in current culture of the Serbian people.

Турци, Срби и неоосманизам: исходишта и озбиљења

Author(s): Slobodan Nagradic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 2/2011

Policy of the modern Turkish state in the last decade, inner, and even more foreign, in the international arena, is inspired and defined with principles and parameters which can be called neoosmanism. That ideological orientation and political practice has its start point in the principles and practice of Ottoman Empire political activities, which leading turkish politicians, summoned arround Justice and development Party, lead by current Turkish prime minister Rejep Tayip Erdogan, today strive not only to rehabilitate, but also to implemetn the postulates of its rule and values that are imanent to Islam. In an international arena, where one of the directions and goals of their activities is also Balkans, meaning also Serbian people and their countries (Serbia, BiH and others), neootman Turkish policy acquires reputation and sense with the doctrine, which its author, Turkish minister of the foreign affairs Ahmet Davutoglou, called strategic depth. So, Serbs are facing a challenge of confronting neootmanism as a policy which will result in new geopolitical redesign of Balkan, Asia Minor, Middle Eastern, Middle Asian, and Caucasian congigurations of power and influence, thus it is important what historical reply to this challenge will they provide. The author pleds that a reply and attitude of Serb people and its countries towards neootmanism should base on principles and values of real-politics.

УЛОГА ВАТИКАНА У РАЗБИЈАЊУ ЈУГОСЛАВИЈЕ

Author(s): Slobodan Vukovic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 3/2004

Intolerance of Vatican primarily toward Serbs and afterwards towards Serbian state has long enduring history. This history got new impetus after the forming of Congregation for the religious propaganda. Vatican led policy against the forming of first Yugoslavia between the World Wars and worked on its destabilization especially after the forming of catholic organization named the Cruisers. During the II WW Vatican took full cooperation with ustashi’s Independent State of Croatia. During this period Catholic church headed by the Holy Chair aproved mass introduction into chatolicism of Serbs and their mass killing that became real genocide in scope. In last crisis during the ninethies Vatican gave full help in disintegration of Yugoslavia in order to make easier proselitism on the East.

Улога свештенства у стварању и раду органа државе Првог српског устанка

(Други део)

Author(s): Jovan Janjic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 150/2015

The Priesthood fulfills their mission for Serb people, and therefore shares the fate of people. It recognizes and shares needs, problems and aspirations of Serb nation. So that was the case in the First Serbian Uprising, hence the same needs and aspirations of the Serbian People and Serbian Clergy to get rid of the Ottoman occupation and have their own state in which they would live by their own laws. This paper attempts to show which way the Clergy was engaged to lead to the establishment of Serbian authority, on the ruins of the Ottoman feudal order on the territory of Belgrade Province, and which way was it included in their work. The intention was the attempt to show what was directly done to lead to the establishment of the Serbian State in the making, but also indirectly through mission of priests within the clergy in order to reach this goal. Specifically, the endeavor was to show how the Karlovac Metropolitanate Stevan Stratimirović, the largest and undisputed spiritual authority among the insurgents of Serb Uprising, with his frequent invitations, (including the addressing to individual insurgent commanders in order to respect the law and order) contributed to creating an environment for the development and operation of the authority of a new Serb State. It seems that, in literature about history and law, and in historiography in general, such activities that indirectly favored the creation of the state of First Serbian Uprising were not sufficiently addressed. But here, such issues were at least partially indicated.

Улога свештенства у стварању и раду органа државе Првог српског устанка (Први део)

Author(s): Jovan Janjic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 149/2014

Priests fulfill their mission among the people, and therefore share its fate. They recognize and share its needs, difficulties and aspirations. That was also the case during the First Serbian Uprising.Serbian people and Serbian clergy, therefore, shared the same needs and aspirations to get rid of the Ottoman occupation and to have their own state in which they will live by their own laws.This paper attempts to show how the clergy helped the establishment of Serbian authorities when the Turkish feudal system collapsed in the area of the Pashaluk of Belgrade, and how it participated in their work. This paper tried to show what was immediately done to lead to the establishment of the Serbian state in the making, but also what was done indirectly, through the priestly mission, in order to reach this goal. In particular, it was shown how Stevan Stratimirović, the Metropolitan of Karlovci, who was the largest and undisputed spiritual authority among the rebels, with his frequent appeals for respect of law and order, often directly addressing rebel leaders, contributed to creating an environment for establishment and work of the new Serbian state authorities. It seems that in the legal and historical literature, as well as in historiography in general, these activities which indirectly lead to the creation of the state after the First Serbian Uprising were not sufficiently analyzed, and in this paper they are at least partially covered.

УСТРОЈЕНИЈЕ ДУХОВНИХ ВЛАСТИ КЊАЖЕСТВА СЕРБСКОГА ИЗ 1847. ГОДИНЕ – ДРУГИ ЗАКОН О ПРАВОСЛАВНОЈ ЦРКВИ У СРБИЈИ

Author(s): Dragan Novakovic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 1/2009

The main objective of this article is to examine the intricate processes of emancipation of the Serbian Church from the control of the State; which occurred under the rule of Prince Miloš, and was institutionally defined in 1836, by the Act on Ecclesiastical Powers. The Archbishop Petar proposed – and the Council accepted – the wording of the Organizational Structure of Ecclesiastical Power, which transferred the matter of organization of religious affairs to the previously neglected ecclesiastical authorities. This was achieved by the Archbishop’s astute use of the political visions of both the Constitutionalists and Prince Aleksandar and their intention to reform and direct Serbian society towards Europe by means of a series of systemic measures.

Утицај вере на уједињавање Старог континента

Author(s): Miroljub Jevtic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 4/2008

European countries get involved in the process of globalization in many different ways. Some of these ways are individual and the others are collective. The most important aspect of globalization is EU, European Union. At the moment the vast majority of European countries are EU members. There are some Balkanic countries among them, such as Greece, Bulgaria and Romania. Other Balkanic countries also show serious intention to join the EU and become lawful members. European Union was roman catholic- protestant community until Greece has joined it. With the admission of Greece the religious quintessence has changed. So, that one orthodox country with orthodoxy as an official religion becomes member of EU. This changes religious quintessence of EU essentially. Apart from that, the labour influx from developing countries even more complicates religious situation in Europe. There are various followers of Muslim, Hindu or Buddist religion. Though, newcomers have remained minority in traditionally roman- catholic and protestant countries. But this minority, that grow day in day out, essentially change christian character of EU. Despite of that Greece was the only country of different religious orientation for a long time. With the admission of Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus the religious structure of EU has changed essentially. Serbia, Ukraine and Georgia are also orthodox countries. And all of them tend to join the EU. If this happened the orthodox would become almost equal in proportional relations. And eventually Russian joining of EU would result in orthodox domination in EU. Albania also tend to join the EU. And Albania is dominantly Muslim country. Therefore, Muslim Albania, huge Muslim community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Bulgaria and numerous Muslim minorities in founding countries of EU raise many questions. One of the most important questions is a question of cultural identity of Europe. Demo- Christian and People’s political parties want to point out in EU Constitution that Europe has Judeo- Christian roots. Left political parties did not accept that. So that this clause has not been included in draft of European Constitution. But this problem has not been solved yet and the future will be very interesting.

Утицај конфесионалнохришћанског чиниоца на корупцију

Author(s): Vladan Stankovic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 2/2011

This scientific work dealt with relationship of Christian confessions (Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism), and corruption. Consideration is approached from a theoretical and empirical sides. In the theoretical part, the author tried to penetrate the social relationships and forms of Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism to corruption, and to determine what characteristics cause this phenomenon more closely. During the empirical research the author has crossed from one independent variable - confession (the majority of Orthodox, Catholic and / or Protestant countries) with variable index ratings (non) existence of corruption based on findings of National Master and Transparency International in the last five years (2005 and 2010). Based on these results the author has confirmed that the confessional factor and correlated corruption, that corruption is best tackled in Protestant countries, and that at least overcome the Orthodox countries. To resolve the problem situation, and curb corruption, it is necessary to pay greater attention to cultural and religious factors and those determinants which may result in corruption, as it were eliminated, or at least significantly reduced.

Утицај религије на социјалну политику у европској унији

Author(s): Dragoslav Kocovic / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 3/2011

In the post- war period (since the middle of the XX century), the European territory has been covered by dynamic and very comprehensive changes in all spheres of social life. The paper shows dilemmas through which the EU has passed in terms of determination of the status of religion in this territory. Namely, there were some discussions on whether Christianity as the dominant religion in Europe should be the official religion of the Union or not. The opinions were divided, but the attitude that religious affiliation is a personal thing of each individual prevailed, which means that everyone has the right and freedom to change their religious affiliation. It is certain that the creators of the European model of uniting countries had in mind the significance of religious tolerance and free choice of believers as an essential factor of peaceful and stable development in the territory of the European Union.