Discussion “The Phenomenon of the Belarusian Nation” in memory of Uladzimir Abushenka (12 May 2016)

12 May 2016

18:30

Crowne Plaza Hotel (13 Kirova Street, Minsk)

The Phenomenon of the Belarusian Nation: The Experience of Intellectual Reflection after 2000, in memory of Uladzimir Abushenka

A discussion within the framework of the Fifth Minsk Conference of the Political Sphere Institute, organised jointly with the Belarusian Collegium.

Until the late 1980s, the contradictions in the development of the Belarusian nation rarely became the subject of intellectual discussion. In the 1990s such discussions became part of political clashes, but only in the 2000s did conditions emerge for deeper intellectual reflection. New explanations of the phenomenon of the Belarusian nation appeared: some tried to reconcile opposing sides, others renewed old schemes, while still others drew attention to new phenomena and inscribed them into Western concepts.

After 2000, “Creole”, “postcolonial”, and “postnational” concepts took shape, along with radical and moderate constructivism. The project of the “ideology of the Belarusian state” experienced a rise and decline, and the idea of a culturally neutral “civic nation” became fashionable before being replaced by a new wave of interest in national culture.

What significance did this intellectual work have? Which concepts are most suitable for contemporary Belarus? What words and ideas can we use to describe the “phenomenon of the Belarusian nation”? These questions will be discussed at the event.

The discussion is dedicated to the memory of the well-known Belarusian sociologist Uladzimir Abushenka (1957–2015), one of the active participants in intellectual discussions about the Belarusian nation in the 2000s and the author of the “Creole” concept.

Participants: Valiantsin Akudovich (Belarusian Collegium), Ihar Babkou (Institute of Philosophy, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus), Mikalai Katsuk (sociologist).

Moderator: Andrei Kazakevich (Political Sphere Institute).