FERBOPO ERA ChairA new book chapter authored by Professor Lavinia Stan, ERA Chair holder within the FERBOPO project, has been published in the volume Orthodox Churches and Politics in Southeastern Europe, Russia, and Ukraine: Nationalism, Traditionalism, and Intolerance, edited by Sabrina Ramet and released by Palgrave Macmillan in 2026.
In her chapter, “Orthodoxy and Conservative Values in Romania” (2026), Lavinia Stan examines the relationship between the Romanian Orthodox Church and conservative social values in the post-communist period. The contribution situates Romania within broader regional debates about the political role of Orthodox Churches, focusing on how religious institutions engage with public life, legislation, and social norms.
The book explores how Orthodox Churches defend their core values through political engagement, particularly in areas such as nationalism, the promotion of “traditional family” ideals, and opposition to movements perceived as threatening, including feminism. While these dynamics placed Churches in tension with communist regimes before 1989, they have taken on new forms and meanings in the post-communist era.
By analyzing the Romanian case within this wider comparative framework, the chapter contributes to ongoing discussions on religion, politics, and social change in Central and Eastern Europe — a central research theme of the FERBOPO project.
Chapter Details
Title: Orthodoxy and Conservative Values in Romania
Authors: Lavinia STAN
Year: 2026
Book: Orthodox Churches and Politics in Southeastern Europe, Russia, and Ukraine: Nationalism, Traditionalism, and Intolerance.
Link: Book chapter
Full Citation: Stan, L. (2026). Orthodoxy and Conservative Values in Romania. In S. Ramet (ed.), Orthodox Churches and Politics in Southeastern Europe, Russia, and Ukraine: Nationalism, Traditionalism, and Intolerance. Palgrave Macmillan Cham. ISBN 978-3-032-13878-1.
Chapter Abstract
Long recognized as one of the conservative forces in post-communist Romania, the majority Orthodox Church (ROC) has condemned homosexuality, gender politics, and divorce and continues to relegate women to secondary positions although they are its most numerous and active members. This chapter examines, in broad strokes, the way in which the ROC has positioned itself toward two values considered essential for a democratic society: toleration and inclusion. While not denying the ROC’s reluctance to reform and open, or its vocal criticism of what many see as “European” values, the chapter contends that the values upheld by the majority Church are not severely misaligned from the values upheld by other religious minorities or the general public in that country.
