DOI: 10.25136/2409-8671.2020.3.34023

Abstract: In recent years, the role of protestant churches in the political life of Latin American countries has significantly grown. We can even talk about a specific regional phenomenon. The research object in this article is the modern political activity of Protestant churches in the region, and the research object is Latin American society. The author analyzes the participation of religious institutions in the latest electoral period of 2018 - 2019 using the example of presidential campaigns in Brazil and Mexico. Special attention is given to the fact that churches are becoming the subjects of political process influencing the reformation of public opinion and providing the secular authorities with massive support. The author concludes that during the presidential election in Brazil the largest local evangelical Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (IURD) gave significant support to the far-right candidate J. Bolsonaro, while in Mexico, the victory of the center-left politician López Obrador wouldn’t be possible without the active participation of the National Association of Evangelical Christian Churches (Confraternice). This Mexican politician has become the first democratically-elected leftist president. Of particular interest is also the analysis of internal and foreign policy of the leaders of Brazil and Mexico supported by the local evangelical communities. The topicality of the scientific problem is determined by the fact that in terms of a crisis of traditional political ideologies, economic and humanitarian crisis, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, religion is becoming the only secure basis, and the influence of its cults on the formation of public opinion will be undoubtedly growing.   

DOI: 10.25136/2409-8671.2019.3.30440

Abstract: Recently, the political presence of Protestant churches in the region has risen significantly. It was proven during the tense election campaign of 2018 - 2019, which demonstrated a high level of political polarization of society. The campaign resulted in the election of the rightist candidates, supported by Protestant communities, as presidents of several countries in Latin America. The sudden rise of Protestant churches was promoted by insufficient work of Catholic Church with the population and the crisis of the leftist parties. Whereas just a while ago Protestant churches limited their political invasion to the local level, today they set larger objectives and influence the results of presidential elections. As the traditional electorate of the rightist parties are the representatives of the upper class, they can’t count on the significant support of the electorate. While Protestant churches solve the biggest political problem of the rightist parties - provide them with the votes of the lower classes and transform them from the elitist to people’s parties. Thus, the author concludes that the new wave of the ‘rightist turmoil’ in Latin America was caused, among other things, by the activity of Protestant churches. The significant influence of these churches in the political life of Latin America can also be considered as a specific regional phenomenon.   

DOI: 10.25136/2409-8671.2018.3.26800

Abstract: The article attempts to identify the modern political role of the Catholic Church in the region by the example of the analysis of the Vatican's relations with the governments of Latin American countries of "socialism of the XXI century". For this purpose, the author considers not only foreign policy events, but also internal processes occurring in the Vatican. For instance, the election of the new Pope Francis - a Jesuit and Argentine, as well as the election, for the first time in the history, of a new General of the Order of Jesuits A. Sosa -Venezuelan by origin - and the appointment of P. Parolin to the post of Secretary of the Holy See, whose professional path was also connected with Venezuela. In this regard, the issue of the influence of the ideas of liberation theology on the development of the ideological program of the left governments of Latin American countries is of scientific interest. At the same time, many Catholic prelates that influence the crisis political events in the region remain in opposition to the left-wing governments. The study of the above contradiction is highly relevant. The scientific novelty of the topic is determined by the increasing influence of the Roman Catholic Church not only on external but also domestic political events in Latin America.

DOI: 10.25136/2409-868X.2018.2.25418

Abstract: The subject of this research is the impact of Evangelical Christian churches upon the development of African-American movement for their rights, freedom, and identity using the example of the United States and some Carribean countries during the 1920’s – 1940’s. Relevance of this topic is substantiated by the fact the despite the military victory over Fascist ideology in May of 1945 and official ban of race discrimination in the late XX century, the modern world again faces the appeals to divide people by the religious, ethnic, and race attributes, as well  as the level of their success in society. Based on the comparative-historical analysis, the article reviews the important events in three continents: North America, partially South America, and Africa, which greatly affected the emergence and development within the Afro-American environment of the ideas of black nationalism, black Judaism, and Rastafarianism. The scientific novelty is defined by the attempt to determine the role of church in Afro-American environment through establishment among its successors of the religious, cultural, economic, and political preferences. The importance of the religious institution in the XXI century is expressed in the fact that the representatives of various Evangelical Christian churches demonstrate different response to the claims of the contemporary political leaders, for example, in the United States, regarding their Afro-American citizens, colored migrants, and recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, thus affecting the establishment of the domestic and foreign policy of the country.