Project title

Missing Minsk

Research question

How do people within the democratic oppostion relate to post 2020 Belarus now, and how do they try to uphold culture and nation from abroad or from under repression.

Project description

Franka Hummels’ book brings together the stories of members of the Belarusian democratic opposition to explore how they relate to Belarus. Many of the interviewees left the country following the repression that succeeded the 2020 election protests. The book examines how Belarusians seek to sustain and redefine their national identity beyond their country’s borders at a time when both traditional and contemporary Belarusian culture are being systematically suppressed within Belarus itself. It also considers how exiled communities prepare for the possibility of a future democratic transition, the challenges of rebuilding life abroad, and the sense of loss experienced both by those who left and by those who remained in a country transformed since 2020.

A second dimension of the book addresses the consequences of the Belarusian regime’s restrictions on foreign journalism. Journalists with extensive expertise and experience in Belarus are no longer able to work freely in the country, which affects the depth and quality of information available to Western European audiences. The book reflects on what is lost as a result, while also showing how information continues to be gathered and reported under these conditions.

Ultimately, the project argues for the continued relevance of Belarus in Western European reporting and foreign policy. The book highlights Belarus’s significance in the broader context of European security and the war in Ukraine, and demonstrates why the country should not be overlooked in discussions about the future of Europe.

Selected publications