The previous chapter demonstrated that the politics of religion in authoritarian regimes is shaped largely by economic concerns in which local government officials and religious communities’ material interests have become intertwined and can often translate into “big business.” In this chapter, the discussion continues to illustrate the closing gap between the sacred and secular; however, the focus turns to the ongoing process of negotiation over nonmaterial concerns. In addition to seeking material gains, political and religious authorities are simultaneously vying for power and prestige. Governing elites seek power to enhance legitimacy and command respect, and religious leaders attempt to influence political decision making, manipulate the religious landscape, and promote their spiritual agenda.

The chapter proceeds in three steps. The first explores how competition for power and prestige shapes religious-state interaction. Here, I continue the arguments from the previous chapter that resources are bargaining chips offered to the opposing side to achieve strategic needs. However, I suggest that cooperation around issues of power and prestige is a riskier strategy for both parties. Local governments endanger empowering religious communities, who in turn could nourish civil society, establish competing centers of power, and at the extremes, “capture” the local state. Religious leaders risk alienating their base by developing “unholy alliances” with those in power and becoming increasingly dependent on state support. The second section introduces the nonmaterial resources that each side brings to the bargaining table and the outcomes of religious-state interaction, including some instance where cooperation backfires. The chapter concludes by analyzing the larger implications of cooperation around power and prestige, addressing which groups are gaining the most, and highlighting the similarities and differences between Russia and China.