{"id":4177,"date":"2023-10-09T19:21:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-09T16:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.pozirk.online\/?post_type=longreads&p=4177"},"modified":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T20:10:49","slug":"minsk-re-writes-history-from-moscows-dictation","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/4177\/","title":{"rendered":"Minsk rewrites history from Moscow\u2019s dictation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Minsk is trying to redefine Belarusian identity based on Russian historical narratives. Ideological and sociocultural imitation complements economic, political and military dependence on Russia.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Belarusian-Russian forum titled \u201cRussia and Belarus: Common History, Common Destiny\u201d took place in Minsk a couple of days ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the famous saying goes, history is politics in reverse. In particular, it relates to a period in history that is studied in schools or embodied in works of art. Historical narratives are widely used by authorities and politicians in all countries to push on with their agenda. Moreover, a reference by politicians to certain historical landmarks can be an indicator and a marker of certain political trends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk aggressively imposes World War II narratives <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The government of Aleksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka uses history as a substitution for the state ideology. The Belarusian ruler has failed to devise any coherent ideology to serve as a basis for narratives of the future. Instead his government is appealing to the past. The heroic past comes as a substitute for a bright future. The government\u2019s message is \u201cLet’s go forward with our heads turned back.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another message is that Belarusians must love \u0141uka\u0161enka because the Soviet Union defeated the Nazis in the Great Patriotic War. This is really strange. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The historical guidelines are imposed very aggressively and are presented as the only truth. Any alternative ideas are prohibited and declared hostile. Books critical of the Soviet Union have been declared extremist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, at that same forum, Leanid Kasinski, the defense ministry\u2019s ideology chief, said that \u201cthe falsification of history is one of the forms of promoting fascism into the mass consciousness.\u201d This is nothing but a totalitarian ideology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usually historical myths underlying national consciousness are designed to prove that the state has deep roots. The deeper the better. Belarusian intellectuals consider the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to be the historical foundation of the Belarusian state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, Belarusian officials usually refer to a very short period, 1941 – 1945. They just ignore the rest of Belarus\u2019 thousand-year history. Instead, they are trying to interpret current politics through the prism of the Second World War. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kasinski said, \u201cToday, unlike in the 1930s, fascism is disguised as struggle for democracy and human rights.\u201d In his worldview, anyone who advocates democracy and human rights is a fascist, while anyone who supports dictatorship is an anti-fascist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarusian officials are picking up narratives of the Kremlin, which builds its ideology on the concept of the Great Victory in the Great Patriotic War, and labels its political opponents Nazis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forum participants view the history of Belarus as part of Russian history. They actually agreed to write a manual on the common history of the Union State for secondary schools. A series entitled \u201cRussia and Belarus: Pages of Common History\u201d will be published, as well as a series \u201cLibrary of the Union State.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Soviet times schoolchildren studied the history of Russia using a book titled \u201cHistory of the USSR,\u201d and now Belarusian schoolchildren will study the history of Russia using a book titled \u201cHistory of the Union State.\u201d Belarusian history may be eliminated from the curriculum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kremlin can eventually say: why do you need a state? <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The experience of other countries shows that a young nation should part ways with the empire with its colonial legacy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus is headed in the opposite direction. Belarusian ethnocultural symbols and elements have been discarded. The white-red-white flag, the Pahonia coat of arms and the Rada of the Belarusian National Republic have been declared extremist symbols and organizations. The authorities are trying to establish a Belarusian identity based on Russian historical narratives. The ideological and sociocultural imitation of Russia is set to complement economic, political and military dependence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This gives Moscow grounds to raise the question at some point: why do you, Belarusians, need your own state? After all, a national state is needed when there is actually a nation with its distinctions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government is looking to abandon all signs of a nation and profess Russian identity. Its policy may facilitate Belarus\u2019 absorption by Russia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The persistence and consistency of the ruling elite in ceding elements of sovereignty to Russia is really shocking. It is a rare trend, especially in recent history.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Minsk is trying to redefine Belarusian identity based on Russian historical narratives. Ideological and sociocultural imitation complements economic, political and military dependence on Russia. A Belarusian-Russian forum titled \u201cRussia and Belarus: Common History, Common Destiny\u201d took place in Minsk a couple of days ago. As the famous saying goes, history is politics in reverse. In […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":3921,"template":"","rubric":[30],"class_list":["post-4177","longreads","type-longreads","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","rubric-security"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMinsk rewrites history from Moscow\u2019s dictation | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Minsk is trying to redefine Belarusian identity based on Russian historical narratives. 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