The Student Affairs and Professional Development Office and the Religion and Politics Nest organised a Religious Diplomacy Workshop titled “Religion and Geopolitics: Epiphany or Apocalypse” with Mr Constantinos ALEXANDRIS, Career Diplomat and Religion and Diplomacy Advisor at European External Action Service.
The workshop, "Religion and Geopolitics: Epiphany or Apocalypse?", focused on the intersection of religion and foreign policy. It provided participants with diplomatic skills and practical tools to navigate the challenges and opportunities in this complex field. The first part, a seminar, explored the religious dimensions influencing global political, cultural, and security landscapes, while exploring existing tools of religious engagement within the EEAS. In the second part participants engaged in a simulation exercise, representing the Ukrainian Government, the US Administration, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the Moscow Patriarchate, as they presented their positions to the EEAS, which is considering whether and how to respond to the 2019 crisis over the autocephalous status of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
About the speaker:
Mr Constantinos ALEXANDRIS is a career diplomat currently serving as Religion and Diplomacy Advisor at the European External Action Service. He has previously held the position of Secretary General for Public Diplomacy at the Greek Foreign Ministry and acted as Special Envoy for the Conference on the Future of Europe. His extensive experience includes postings at Greek Embassies in Washington, DC, Tel Aviv, and Ankara. Mr ALEXANDRIS will lead the workshop, offering valuable insights into the interplay between religion and geopolitics.