The Visionary European Geopolitics of Ioannis Kapodistrias: Socio-Political and Spiritual-Religious Aspects

Introduction . In today’s world, questions regarding the role of the individual and their influence on the formation and development of a nation-state, as well as its interactions with other countries, remain highly relevant. The purpose of this article is to reconstruct the socio-political and spiritual-religious views of Ioannis Kapodistrias, which are essential for understanding his visionary European geopolitics. Main objectives: to analyze the activities of Ioannis Kapodistrias as an outstanding politician and diplomat; to identify the socio-political and spiritual-religious views of Ioannis Kapodistrias; to determine the role of Kapodistrias as an individual in building relations between the peoples of the Greek state and the European community. Materials and Methods . The study employs general scientific research methods, including the method of universal connections, the method of comparative analysis and synthesis, the descriptive method, and scientific generalization. The underlying methodological framework of this work is based on dialectical and systems approaches. Results . The visionary European geopolitical vision of Ioannis Kapodistrias was aimed primarily at upholding Greece’s political, socioeconomic, and spiritual-religious independence, as well as at maintaining and developing relations with European states, including, first and foremost, Russia. The Greek president sought to create for his compatriots an independent European-style state based on the values of the Enlightenment and professing the Orthodox Christian values inherent in the Russian state. Discussion and Conclusion . It has been concluded that, during his brief tenure as head of the Greek state, Ioannis Kapodistrias of Kiveritis contributed, through his visionary geopolitical efforts, to the restoration of Greece and its political independence, as well as to the choice of a religious path for the country’s development. This study may serve as a basis for further research into the activities of the first Greek president and for assessing his outstanding contributions to his compatriots and foreign partners in his political, socio-economic, religious-educational, and diplomatic endeavors.