Dynamics of Authoritarianism and Protest in Belarus

In recent years, Belarus has witnessed a profound contestation between entrenched authoritarian structures and emergent protest movements. Since 1994, the Lukashenka regime has consolidated power by combining coercive measures with clientelism and a carefully nurtured narrative of national stability. This triad of repression, co-optation and legitimation secured acquiescence for decades. However, the disputed presidential election of August 2020 catalysed unprecedented mobilisation across social strata, signalling an erosion of the regime’s foundational pillars. Protesters harnessed digital platforms to coordinate micro-actions, bypass state media, and cultivate horizontal networks. Women assumed prominent roles in peaceful demonstrations, subverting traditional gender norms and sustaining momentum. Although authorities responded with intensified repression, the sheer scale and persistence of dissent has revealed cracks in the regime’s façade of invincibility. Research on Belarus now encompasses the study of authoritarian resilience, the mechanics of digital and analogue protest repertoires, and the re-signification of national identity symbols in public discourse. These dynamics hold global relevance for understanding how digital technologies and social capital can shape contestation in contemporary authoritarian contexts, offering insights into the interplay of state power and civic agency.

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Dynamics of Authoritarianism and Protest in Belarus publication trend

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Technical terms

Authoritarian stability: The capacity of an authoritarian regime to maintain power through a combination of coercion, co-optation and legitimisation strategies.

Pre-existing social networks: Interpersonal ties formed prior to protest that facilitate communication, coordination and trust within affected communities.

Techno-social practices: Collaborative processes in which technological tools and social interactions are integrated to organise, sustain and document collective action.

Digital mobilisation: The use of online platforms and digital communication to recruit, coordinate and inform participants in protest movements.

References

1. Machinery of dissent: Exploring the techno-social practices of modern protests. Internet Policy Review (2024).
2. “All of Belarus has come out onto the streets”: exploring nationwide protest and the role of pre-existing social networks. Post-Soviet Affairs (2022).
3. The 2020 Presidential Election in Belarus: Erosion of Authoritarian Stability and Re-politicization of Society. Nationalities Papers (2021).
4. How Feminist is the Belarusian Revolution? Female Agency and Participation in the 2020 Post-Election Protests. Slavic Review (2021).
5. You are what you read: media, identity, and community in the 2020 Belarusian uprising. Post-Soviet Affairs (2022).
6. Flowers, Tractors, & Telegram: Who are the Protesters in Belarus?: A Survey Based Assessment of Anti-Lukashenka Protest Participants. Nationalities Papers (2023).
7. Reassembling Society in a Nation-State: History, Language, and Identity Discourses of Belarus. Nationalities Papers (2022).