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EN
The purpose of this article is to introduce the image of the Republic of Belarus and Belarusians in the context of the “Theory of the Turn” of Arjun Appadurai. It analyzes the ethnoscapes, mediascapes, technoscapes, finanscapes and ideascapes constituting the contemporary picture of the Republic of Belarus and Belarusians. In the modern, globalized world both imaginations and symbols served an important role in inter-ethnic relations. Contemporary images of the Republic of Belarus and Belarusian culture are constructed based on the actions of globalized mass media. The Polish media are dominated by the political image of Belarus. Belarusian society is being shown as passive in relation to Lukashenko’s dictatorship. Polish public media are not interested in the Belarusians’ culture, science or art. Contrary to widespread flow of information on the globalized world, the image of the Republic of Belarus and Belarusians is characterized by vagueness and insufficient information.
EN
What future for Belarus? An analysis of identity issuesThe present article discusses various types of Belarusian collective identity and analyses their potential to make Belarus an empowered, fully independent, democratic and economically efficient society, nation and state with a stable position on the political map of Europe. The study is based mainly on sociological surveys collected by IISEPS, an independent Belarusian research institute. These data reveal weak points of Belarusian national identity (including a low level of historical awareness), a residue of the Soviet system of values and attitudes, as well as a considerable degree of Russification of the society. Although Belarusians have become used to having their own state (which, however, they treat mainly in terms of a nationwide welfare institution), they have retained a strong sense of local and regional identity. Social attitudes, both on an individual and community level, are clearly dominated by economic rather than ideological motivation. Eastern, pro-Russian orientation is far more widespread than pro-European attitudes, especially when more than only verbal support is involved. The text also points out symptoms of consolidating Belarusian collective identity, even if its post-Soviet/West Russian pattern still prevails over pro-European and pro-national orientation of the occidental type. Belarusian society is specific, which makes it difficult to analyze in terms of standard categories. The article demonstrates why identity issues limit the potential for any rapid significant political change in Belarusian society.  Jaka jest przyszłość Białorusi? Analiza kwestii tożsamościowychArtykuł wskazuje na związki istniejące między różnymi orientacjami tożsamościowymi Białorusinów a możliwością ich trwałego zaistnienia na politycznej mapie Europy jako społeczeństwa, narodu i państwa w pełni upodmiotowionego, niepodległego, demokratycznego i sprawnego gospodarczo. W znacznym stopniu jest oparty na danych socjologicznych uzyskanych przez białoruski niezależny instytut badawczy NISEPI. Dane te obrazują słabości białoruskiej tożsamości narodowej (w tym świadomości historycznej), wyraźne pozostałości sowieckiego systemu wartości i postaw oraz duży stopień rusyfikacji społeczeństwa, także odczuwalnie już zaistniałą przywykłość do posiadania własnego państwa (traktowanego jednak przede wszystkim socjalnie) przy jednoczesnym trwaniu silnych lokalizmów i regionalizmów. W dalszym ciągu postawy promaterialne wyraźnie dominują nad proideowymi nie tylko na poziomie odniesień jednostkowych, ale i zbiorowych, a orientacja na Wschód (Rosję) zdecydowanie przeważa nad postawami proeuropejskimi, zwłaszcza jeśli wykraczają one poza werbalne formy ekspresji. W tekście przedstawione są także argumenty świadczące o wzmacnianiu się białoruskiej wspólnotowości, aczkolwiek orientacja postsowiecko-zapadnoruska wciąż przeważa nad proeuropejską orientacją narodową typu okcydentalnego. Społeczeństwo białoruskie wyróżnia się swą specyfiką, niełatwą do opisu w kategoriach, do których przywykliśmy. Artykuł pokazuje tożsamościowe ograniczenia możliwości zaistnienia istotnych, szybkich i głębokich zmian politycznych w społeczeństwie białoruskim.
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What future for Belarus? An analysis of identity issues

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EN
The present article discusses various types of Belarusian collective identity and analyses their potential to make Belarus an empowered, fully independent, democratic and economically efficient society, nation and state with a stable position on the political map of Europe. The study is based mainly on sociological surveys collected by IISEPS, an independent Belarusian research institute. These data reveal weak points of Belarusian national identity (including a low level of historical awareness), a residue of the Soviet system of values and attitudes, as well as a considerable degree of Russification of the society. Although Belarusians have become used to having their own state (which, however, they treat mainly in terms of a nationwide welfare institution), they have retained a strong sense of local and regional identity. Social attitudes, both on an individual and community level, are clearly dominated by economic rather than ideological motivation. Eastern, pro-Russian orientation is far more widespread than pro-European attitudes, especially when more than only verbal support is involved. The text also points out symptoms of consolidating Belarusian collective identity, even if its post-Soviet/West Russian pattern still prevails over pro-European and pro-national orientation of the occidental type. Belarusian society is specific, which makes it difficult to analyze in terms of standard categories. The article demonstrates why identity issues limit the potential for any rapid significant political change in Belarusian society.
PL
Objective of this paper is to show the situation of Belarusian education from 1944 to 2016, i.e. in the times of rough and frequent politically motivated changes. It had negative impact on fate of schools with Belarusian teaching language, which are places of building national identity, sustaining seperate tradition, culture and language. In period from 1944 to late 80’s, Polish authorities had not developed particular strategy towards minority, thus their situation in PRL were unstable. As a result, initial growth of education nearly ended on completly liquidation in the 80’s. New chances for Polish Belarusians were creating with government transformation after 1989. Since this time situation of Belarusians and their education in Poland are stable.
EN
The main subject of this article is the self-concept of the Belarusians as an ethnic community, especially in the assessments of the forerunners of the Belarusian nationalist movement and Belarusian nationalists of the 1990s. In this context, the study pointed out a tendency to change the attitude of some circles of the current Belarusian elites and their changeable evaluations of situations of civil society in their country as well as Belarusianness in the conditions of state sovereignty The paper also discusses the reasons of the failure of the nationalist movement and factors impacting on the Belarusian inclinations and attitudes. The most distinctive features of the present-day Belarusian identity were also distinguished. Referring to sociological studies and opinions of experts, the author sough to distinguish values that determine feelings and attitudes prevailing in the contemporary Belarusian society. He emphasized that the transformation is taking place in its peculiar way, in the state of diversification impeding consolidation, and practically without a uniting or integrating national factor needed for the development of mechanisms of democratic society and international integration.
EN
The article offers the reading of Michał Androsiuk’s "Biały koń", "Wagon drugiej klasy" in the context of remembrance, addressing the question of identity of Belarusians in Podlasie region. A borderland town of Hajnówka becomes the place where individual and collective memory, History, and imagination intersect. Finally, it appears that the long-lasting cohesive national identity, while grounded on false premises, might prove to be more tempting or convenient than the complex, equivocal frontier past.
PL
W niniejszym artykule ukazano istotę ręcznika obrzędowego, czyli jego zdobnictwo, rodzaje, zastosowanie, symbolikę, motywy tworzenia, a także miejsce, jakie zajmuje w życiu Białorusinów zamieszkujących region wschodniej Polski. Ręcznik towa-rzyszy Białorusinom od narodzin, przy zaręczynach, ślubie, na weselu, aż do śmierci. Na Podlasiu występują dwa rodzaje ręczników białoruskich: codzienny i obrzędowy. Pełnią one funkcje praktyczne, estetyczne, kultowe, symboliczne, oczyszczające, ochronne oraz magiczne. Treści zawarte w artykule uzyskano dzięki: analizie literatury bezpośrednio związanej z przedmiotem badań, analizie formalnej dokumentów i wytworów zastanych jednostki, obserwacji oraz wywiadom swobodnym. Poprzez zastosowanie tych technik badawczych odczytano symbolikę białoruskiego ręcznika obrzędowego oraz ustalono jego miejsce i sposób wykorzystania przez Białorusinów w określonych rytuałach i zwyczajach.
EN
This article shows the importance of a ritual towel, its ornamentation, types, application, symbolism, creation motifs and the place it occupies in the lives of Belarusians living in the region of eastern Poland. The towel accompanies Belarusians from birth, engagement, through marriage, wedding, to death. There are two types of Belorussian towels in the Podlasie Region: casual and ceremonial towels. They perform practical, aesthetic, religious, symbolic, cleansing, protective and mystical functions. The content of the article was obtained by an analysis of literature directly related to the subject of research, formal analysis of documents and products of research, observations and in-depth ethnographic interviews. By using these research techniques, the author interpreted the symbolism of the Belarusian ceremonial towel. The presented research also helped to determine its place and manner of use by Belarusians in specific rituals and customs.
EN
Polish accession to NATO (12 March 1999) and the European Union (1 May 2004) meant that the authorities in Warsaw have become part of international policy, the two structures of Western Europe and the United States. Belarus and began to approach closer to Russia, which cooled relations with Warsaw. In 2008, Sweden and Poland began to lay the foundations of the EU’s eastern pol-icy, hereinafter referred to as the Eastern Partnership. However, the violent actions of the regime of Alexander Lukashenko after the undemocratic presi-dential elections on 19 December 2010, resulted in further isolation of the Bela-rusian authorities. Violation of human rights is one of the main obstacles in the way of Belarus to establishing good relations with the European Union. Polish Politics and the European Union towards Belarus can be described as „democ-ratic crusade” of Western civilization.
EN
Ethnic and linguistic changes of the Belarusian population at the turn of the 21th centuryThe first part of the article presents historical background of the origin of the Belarusian nation, located in the area of a confrontation between Russia and Poland. This rivalry was won by Russia, and in effect Belarusian land was incorporated into the Russian Empire, and later into the Soviet state. The next part presents the 20th century ethnic structure as the consequence of the Bolshevik Revolution and World Wars I and II, resulting in some border changes, war loses and migration movements. The main part of the article deals with the ethnic and language changes which occurred in the last decade of the 20th and in the first decade of the 21st centuries. The statistical analysis and interpretation is based on data from three population censuses (1989, 1999, 2009). An ethnic structure and linguistic situation are presented with the emphasis placed on the status of the two languages commonly used in Belarus, i.e. Russian and Belarusian, as seen in two categories: of mother language and of the language used for communication at home. The conclusions prove the expansion of popularity of the Russian language and gradual decrease of the use of the Belarusian language, both in public and at home. The processes of Russification, which had begun in the Soviet period, are intensifying despite the fact that Belarus regained its political souverianity as a country. On the basis of quantitative data the author defines specific intensity and territorial distribution of the influence of the Russian language. The final part of the article shows political and geo-political consequences of these changes in Belarus.
PL
Narodowy Spis Powszechny z 2002 roku wykazał, iż mniejszość białoruska w Polsce liczy niespełna 50 tysięcy przedstawicieli. Na przeszkodzie dokładnemu ustaleniu liczebności Białorusinów w Polsce stoją jednak różnego rodzaju przyczyny historyczne oraz społeczno- ekonomiczne, które sprawiają, iż otwarte deklarowanie narodowości nie jest wśród Białorusinów rozpowszechnione. Ostrożnie podchodzić należy również do potocznego utożsamiania prawosławia z białoruskością, gdyż na obszarze wschodniej Białostocczyzny stosunkowo niewielka część ludności wyznania prawosławnego zdecydowała się na zadeklarowanie narodowości innej niż polska.
EN
The 2002 Polish National Census has shown that Belarusian minority in Poland consists of nearly 50,000 members. Although, the exact determination of number of Belarusians in Poland is diffi cult, because of various historical, social and economical reasons, which cause that open declarations of Belarusian identity are not common among the Belarusians. Traditional identifying Belarusian nationality with Orthodox Christianity should be considered with caution, because relatively small amount of Orthodox population in the eastern part of Bialystok region decided to declare other than Polish nationality
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EN
Peasant photography is an incredibly interesting cultural phenomenon. Until the photograph appeared in the space of the countryside, spoken word had been the major form of expression used by peasants to talk about themselves and the world. It is a type of photography created for the needs of peasants on their own initiative. Photos represent a selected moment in a passage rite of a family, portraying its members and acquaintances. They constitute an important element in shaping the image of the peasant. Therefore the initiative of the historian Joanna Sapieżyńska, who collected and prepared photographs of the inhabitants of her native village in the album “Witowo” is very valuable. The collected photographs of the inhabitants of Witowo show images of peasant life over 50 years. The photos available in the form of album play an important role in the reconstruction of village’s microhistory. They are a testimony to the changes and shaping of the identity of Podlasie Belarusians. Peasant photography from Witowo shows the richness of peasant Belarusian culture. It should be noted that there are noticeable differences between the photographs created in Podlasie and photos from other regions of Poland. Photographs collected by J. Sapieżyńska are of great value for historical, cultural and social reasons. They can be of great importance in popularizing Belarusian culture in Podlasie as an example of its strength and values, as well as in encouraging a return to the roots.
Facta Simonidis
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2009
|
vol. 2
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issue 1
75-89
EN
The 2002 Polish National Census has shown that Belarusian minority in Poland consists of nearly 50,000 members. Although, the exact determination of number of Belarusians in Poland is diffi cult, because of various historical, social and economical reasons, which cause that open declarations of Belarusian identity are not common among the Belarusians. Traditional identifying Belarusian nationality with Orthodox Christianity should be considered with caution, because relatively small amount of Orthodox population in the eastern part of Bialystok region decided to declare other than Polish nationality.
PL
Narodowy Spis Powszechny z 2002 roku wykazał, iż mniejszość białoruska w Polsce liczy niespełna 50 tysięcy przedstawicieli. Na przeszkodzie dokładnemu ustaleniu liczebności Białorusinów w Polsce stoją jednak różnego rodzaju przyczyny historyczne oraz społeczno-ekonomiczne, które sprawiają, iż otwarte deklarowanie narodowości nie jest wśród Białorusinów rozpowszechnione. Ostrożnie podchodzić należy również do potocznego utożsamiania prawosławia z białoruskością, gdyż na obszarze wschodniej Białostocczyzny stosunkowo niewielka część ludności wyznania prawosławnego zdecydowała się na zadeklarowanie narodowości innej niż polska.
EN
Peasant photography is an incredibly interesting cultural phenomenon. Until the photograph appeared in the space of the countryside, spoken word had been the major form of expression used by peasants to talk about themselves and the world. It is a type of photography created for the needs of peasants on their own initiative. Photos represent a selected moment in a passage rite of a family, portraying its members and acquaintances. They constitute an important element in shaping the image of the peasant. Therefore the initiative of the historian Joanna Sapieżyńska, who collected and prepared photographs of the inhabitants of her native village in the album “Witowo” is very valuable. The collected photographs of the inhabitants of Witowo show images of peasant life over 50 years. The photos available in the form of album play an important role in the reconstruction of village’s microhistory. They are a testimony to the changes and shaping of the identity of Podlasie Belarusians. Peasant photography from Witowo shows the richness of peasant Belarusian culture. It should be noted that there are noticeable differences between the photographs created in Podlasie and photos from other regions of Poland. Photographs collected by J. Sapieżyńska are of great value for historical, cultural and social reasons. They can be of great importance in popularizing Belarusian culture in Podlasie as an example of its strength and values, as well as in encouraging a return to the roots.
PL
W wyniku ofensywy wojsk niemieckich latem 1941 r. Łotwa dostała się pod okupację III Rzeszy. Struktura narodowościowa Łotwy cechowała się różnorodnością. Wśród najliczniejszych grup mniejszościowych znajdowali się Białorusini. Niemieckie władze okupacyjne, stosując zasadę „dziel i rządź”, były skłonne przyznać Białorusinom pewną autonomię kulturalno-oświatową. Miejscowa inteligencja białoruska upatrywała w tym szansę na umocnienie własnych wpływów w Łatgalii, którą traktowano jako część tzw. białoruskiego obszaru etnograficznego. W związku z tym, kierując się zimną polityczną kalkulacją, podjęto współpracę z okupantem. W 1941 r. w Rydze i Dyneburgu utworzono Białoruski Komitet Narodowy (od wiosny 1942 r. Zrzeszenie Białoruskie) w Okręgu Generalnym Łotwa. Głównym kierunkiem działalności tej organizacji była działalność społeczna i kulturalno-oświatowa wśród mieszkańców Łatgalii. Prowadzono chóry i zespoły artystyczne, działalność wydawniczą i kulturalno-oświatową. Ponadto podejmowano próby wprowadzenia języka białoruskiego do świątyń katolickich i prawosławnych. Dążono do obsadzenia administracji cywilnej i samorządów na szczeblu niższym i średnim w niektórych gminach Łatgalii osobami narodowości białoruskiej. Za priorytet w działalności Białorusinów należy jednak uznać organizację szkolnictwa w języku ojczystym. Aktywność białoruska wywołała zaniepokojenie wielu Łotyszy, ponieważ przywódcy łotewskich Białorusinów liczyli się z możliwością przyłączenia w przyszłości Łatgalii do Białorusi. Z wielu powodów „akcja białoruska” na Łotwie pod okupacją niemiecką nie odniosła większego sukcesu.
EN
As a result of the German army’s off ensive in the summer of 1941, Latvia was occupied by the Third Reich. The national structure of Latvia was characterized by diversity. Belarusians were among the most numerous minority groups. The German authorities, using the principle of „divide and rule”, were willing to give Belarusians a certain cultural and educational autonomy. The local Belarusian intelligentsia saw in this a chance to strengthen their infl uence in Latgale, which was treated as part of the so-called Belarusian ethnographic area. In 1941, the Belarusian National Committee was established in Riga and Daugavpils (from the spring of 1942 – the Belarusian Association). The main activity of this organization was social and cultural-educational activity among the residents of Latvia. There were choirs and artistic groups, publishing and cultural-educational activities. In addition, attempts were made to introduce the Belarusian language to Catholic and Orthodox churches. The aim was to fi ll the civil administration and local governments at the lower and middle level in Latgale with people of Belarusian nationality. The organization of education in the mother language was started. Belarusian activism has caused concern among many Latvians, because the leaders of the Latvian Belarusians counted on the possibility of joining Latgale in the future to Belarus. For a number of reasons, the „Belarusian action” in Latvia under German occupation was not a major success.
EN
Many Central-Eastern European refugees and йmigrйs settled in the West after World War II Political elites in exile attempted to work out a set of principles that would enaЬle them to join forces in their fight against communism. For this common goal to Ьe achieved, they first had to resolve internal disputes and conflicts. The article discusses the relations Ьetween Belarusian and Russian йmigrйs who actively opposed communism. It analyses the positions adopted Ьy Belarusian and Russian immigration activists after the fall of the USSR in matters relating to their mutual relations. The article examines the negotiations that were staged to reach a compromise on fundamental issues and analyses the key reasons for their failure.
EN
The article focuses on the contemporary images and associations of Polish university students with their Eastern neighbours – Belarus and Belarusians. At the beginning of the article I argue that Belarusians for a long time remained a relatively unknown nation, not only for the distant Western Europeans or Americans, but also for the neighbouring states. An overview of Polish public opinion research concerning the national stereotypes and attitudes towards Belarusians is provided. 150 surveys with Polish university students in Warsaw and Krakow have been conducted. The analysis of the results shows that an overwhelming majority of university students associate Belarus and Belarusians with its contemporary political situation. Associations with people, their culture and customs are marginal. Moreover, Belarusians were neither familiar, nor interesting, to the majority of Polish students. Thus, the stereotypical image of Belarusians is not well shaped in Poland – until today they remain rather unknown and vague to Poles.  
PL
Artykuł jest poświęcony współczesnym obrazom i skojarzeniom polskich studentów z ich wschodnimi sąsiadami – Białorusinami. Na początku artykułu zwracam uwagę na to, iż Białorusini przez długi czas pozostawali stosunkowo nieznani jako naród nie tylko dla odległej Europy Zachodniej czy Ameryki, ale również dla państw sąsiednich. Dalej jest przytoczony przegląd polskich badań opinii publicznej, dotyczących stereotypów narodowych i postaw wobec Białorusinów. Badanie własne zawiera analizę 150 ankiet przeprowadzonych ze studentami w Warszawie i Krakowie. Analiza wyników pokazuje, że zdecydowanej większości polskich studentów Białoruś i Białorusini kojarzą się ze współczesną sytuacją polityczną w tym kraju. Skojarzenia z ludźmi, ich kulturą oraz obyczajami są bardzo nieliczne. Ponadto dla większości polskich studentów Białoruś oraz Białorusini nie są ani dobrze znani, ani interesujący. W ten sposób można stwierdzić, że stereotypowy obraz Białorusinów nie jest dobrze ukształtowany w Polsce. Do dziś Białorusini pozostają raczej mało znani Polakom.
PL
Ważnym komponentem wychowania dziecka w rodzinie jest włączenie go w wartości religijne. Wychowanie religijne nie tylko kształtuje moralność dziecka, ale również łączy pokolenia i pomaga zachować tożsamość etniczną. Co więcej, przestrzeganie tradycji religijnych w rodzinie pomaga jednocześnie tworzyć relacje z innymi członkami wspólnoty religijnej. Szczególny nacisk kładzie się na rolę rodziny w sytuacji, gdy praktyki religijne są oficjalnie zabronione, jak było przez lata w ZSRR. To właśnie wtedy religijne wychowanie stało się podstawowym narzędziem socjalizacji w życiu religijnym. Obiektem badania jest katolicka ludność okręgu Tomskiego, reprezentowana przez Polaków i Białorusinów. Ludzie ci zamieszkują Syberię od wieków i dzięki czynnikowi wyznaniowemu udało im się zachować kulturową i etniczną tożsamość. Głównym punktem badań będą następujące zagadnienia: życie zgodnie z kalendarzem liturgicznym, udział w świętach religijnych, czytanie literatury religijnej, odwiedzanie świątyń itd. Ujawnianie form i mechanizmów wspierających tradycję katolicką w rodzinie wymaga badań nad źródłami prywatnymi i ustnymi. Podstawowymi źródłami w tych badaniach są informacje, które autor artykułu otrzymał od Polaków i Białorusinów w okręgu tomskim.
EN
religious values. Religious upbringing not only shapes children’s moral qualities but also provides a link between generations and contributes to the preservation of ethnic identity. Moreover, following the religious traditions in the family helps to simultaneously enter into relationships with other members of their religious community. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of family in a situation of an official prohibition of religious life, which was imposed in the USSR for a long time. At precisely that time religious upbringing became the basic means of enculturation into religious life. The subject of this investigation is the Catholic population of the Tomsk region, represented by Poles and Belarusians. These people have been living in Siberia for centuries and thanks to the confessional factor they were able to preserve their ethnic and cultural identity. In the spotlight of the study will be the following issues: keeping the religious calendar, taking part in ceremonial activities, reading religious literature, visiting temples, etc. Revealing the forms and mechanisms of supporting the Catholic tradition in the family requires exploration of private and oral sources. Information received by the author of this paper from Polish and Belarusian populations in the Tomsk region is the basic source material of this study.
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