Borowska, Paula; (2022) Religion and Social Capital: the Case of Protestants in Belarus. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This thesis explains how Protestant congregations generate social capital, particularly in non-democratic contexts like Belarus characterized by the atomization of society. It uses the worldwide phenomenon of Protestant Christianity to shed light on wider debates about social capital. The demise of the Soviet Union brought profound social changes. It seriously affected religious tendencies in the societies of newly independent countries, institutionalized in more liberal and religion-friendly laws. There has been little empirical research of the growth of religious organizations, their diversity and, finally, the effects all these changes brought to individuals and communities both at the time of the Soviet Union’s dissolution and later. This thesis addresses three major problems. First, Protestant congregations are taken as civil society actors. Second, it explores in what ways religious organizations are capable of generating social capital of two distinct types: spiritual capital (a moral basis, a set of values, or a system of faith) and religious capital (the practical ways members contribute to their communities). Third, it analyses whether social capital is transferrable beyond a religious congregation and can bring about change in society. To address these problems, the thesis suggests exploring Protestantism in a threefold way: as a distinct model of lifestyle, as a model of civic engagement and, finally, as a model of social life. The empirical part of the research was conducted in 2016-2019 and involved multi-sited fieldwork in Belarus, in both urban and rural settings. It used ethnographic methods of in-depth, face-to-face interviews and participant observation. These research tools enabled the observation of people in their natural setting, for example while congregating, and the embracing of their distinct perspectives. The research demonstrates that not only does Protestantism offer a unique type of lifestyle, but also that congregations serve a crucial platform for various forms of civic engagement; they can be a vehicle for either quasi-political or cultural activism. The study shows that many Protestants perceive ‘prayer’ as the ultimate mode of influence on wider society in Belarus. Finally, the social life taking place within congregations provides individuals with a distinct basis for personal relationships and facilitates support networks.

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