Collective Memory and Identity Issues in Post-Soviet Belarus: Soft-Belarusisation and the Kastus’ Kalinoŭski Myth
The article aims to explore post-Soviet transition in Belarus with a focus on issues of identity, language, and collective memory, providing original insights to interpret the events of 2020. The reconstruction of the debate on identity models in Belarus constitutes the basis of the article, briefl...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Belarusian |
| Published: |
Aracne editrice
2021-12-01
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| Series: | eSamizdat |
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| Online Access: | https://www.esamizdat.it/ojs/index.php/eS/article/view/125 |
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| author | Daria Cusitcaia Ilaria Zaggia |
| author_facet | Daria Cusitcaia Ilaria Zaggia |
| author_sort | Daria Cusitcaia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The article aims to explore post-Soviet transition in Belarus with a focus on issues of identity, language, and collective memory, providing original insights to interpret the events of 2020. The reconstruction of the debate on identity models in Belarus constitutes the basis of the article, briefly covering the period from the early 1990s up to recent times. It is argued that, after 2014, the so-called Soft-Belarusisation highlighted some changes taking place in Belarusian society, manifested through civic initiatives and the shift in the government’s narrative. These will also be visible in the case study of the contested hero Kastus’ Kalinoŭski whose symbolic meaning has been reshaped in the memories of Belarusians after the 2020 protests. It is concluded that Soft-Belarusisation can be considered as a process of transition from an identity that still features many Soviet elements towards an identity under redefinition, which also incorporates elements from alternative models of national identity.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a5a649e143f94d2b8d98da9e9fccf92d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1723-4042 |
| language | Belarusian |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Aracne editrice |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eSamizdat |
| spelling | doaj-art-a5a649e143f94d2b8d98da9e9fccf92d2024-12-15T20:20:15ZbelAracne editriceeSamizdat1723-40422021-12-0114142Collective Memory and Identity Issues in Post-Soviet Belarus: Soft-Belarusisation and the Kastus’ Kalinoŭski MythDaria Cusitcaia0Ilaria Zaggia1Institute of Political Studies “Political Sphere”Independent researcher The article aims to explore post-Soviet transition in Belarus with a focus on issues of identity, language, and collective memory, providing original insights to interpret the events of 2020. The reconstruction of the debate on identity models in Belarus constitutes the basis of the article, briefly covering the period from the early 1990s up to recent times. It is argued that, after 2014, the so-called Soft-Belarusisation highlighted some changes taking place in Belarusian society, manifested through civic initiatives and the shift in the government’s narrative. These will also be visible in the case study of the contested hero Kastus’ Kalinoŭski whose symbolic meaning has been reshaped in the memories of Belarusians after the 2020 protests. It is concluded that Soft-Belarusisation can be considered as a process of transition from an identity that still features many Soviet elements towards an identity under redefinition, which also incorporates elements from alternative models of national identity. https://www.esamizdat.it/ojs/index.php/eS/article/view/125BelarusIdentity BuildingCollective MemoryKastus’ KalinoŭskiSoft-Belarusisation2020 Protests |
| spellingShingle | Daria Cusitcaia Ilaria Zaggia Collective Memory and Identity Issues in Post-Soviet Belarus: Soft-Belarusisation and the Kastus’ Kalinoŭski Myth eSamizdat Belarus Identity Building Collective Memory Kastus’ Kalinoŭski Soft-Belarusisation 2020 Protests |
| title | Collective Memory and Identity Issues in Post-Soviet Belarus: Soft-Belarusisation and the Kastus’ Kalinoŭski Myth |
| title_full | Collective Memory and Identity Issues in Post-Soviet Belarus: Soft-Belarusisation and the Kastus’ Kalinoŭski Myth |
| title_fullStr | Collective Memory and Identity Issues in Post-Soviet Belarus: Soft-Belarusisation and the Kastus’ Kalinoŭski Myth |
| title_full_unstemmed | Collective Memory and Identity Issues in Post-Soviet Belarus: Soft-Belarusisation and the Kastus’ Kalinoŭski Myth |
| title_short | Collective Memory and Identity Issues in Post-Soviet Belarus: Soft-Belarusisation and the Kastus’ Kalinoŭski Myth |
| title_sort | collective memory and identity issues in post soviet belarus soft belarusisation and the kastus kalinouski myth |
| topic | Belarus Identity Building Collective Memory Kastus’ Kalinoŭski Soft-Belarusisation 2020 Protests |
| url | https://www.esamizdat.it/ojs/index.php/eS/article/view/125 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dariacusitcaia collectivememoryandidentityissuesinpostsovietbelarussoftbelarusisationandthekastuskalinouskimyth AT ilariazaggia collectivememoryandidentityissuesinpostsovietbelarussoftbelarusisationandthekastuskalinouskimyth |