THE CONTRADICTIONS AND CONFLICTS IN THE SYSTEM OF MINISTERIAL CONTROL OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES (BASED ON THE ARCHIVE OF THE RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN CONFESSIONS)

Abstract

The article deals with the conflicts and contradictions that arose between the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Peoples’ Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire in the course of their participation in the process of managing religious organizations. The reasons of interdepartmental contradictions were in subordinate religious communities of various ministries, as well as in the purposes and objectives that were set to different departments. Mitigation of conflicts between the agencies was achieved through the gradual empowerment of the Interior Ministry and the simultaneous reduction of the competence of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Education Ministry.