Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T08:20:25.006Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Forum: New Directions in Belarusian Studies Besieged Past: National and Court Historians in Lukashenka's Belarus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2018

Rainer Lindner
Rainer Lindner*
Affiliation:
East European History at the University of Konstanz, Germany
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

At the beginning of the 1990s, when the former Soviet republics declared sovereignty, the questions of their national histories, long neglected in the Soviet period, once again became important. In taking up the national and cultural traditions of the pre-Soviet era, as well as a literary language that had been reduced to folklore, the post-Soviet national intelligentsias began to develop their own versions of the Belarusian past. As the old Soviet empire declined, new “historical” nations developed against a background of diverse ethnicity and political struggles for power. Western scholars have discussed in detail the changes in historical writing since the emergence of glasnost'. The post-Soviet intelligentsia not only faced a crisis in historical writing and history generally within the late Soviet Union, but were confronted with what Aaron Gurevich has called a “vacuum of historical vision.”

Type
Forum: New Directions in Belarusian Studies
Information
Nationalities Papers , Volume 27 , Issue 4 , December 1999 , pp. 631 - 647
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 Association for the Study of Nationalities 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Notes

1. Among the early works are: Takayuki Ito, ed., Facing up to the Past. Soviet Historiography under Perestroika (Sapporo: Slavic Research Center, Hokkaido University, 1989); R. W. Davies, Soviet History in the Gorbachev Revolution (London: Macmillan, 1989); and Dietrich Geyer, ed., Die Umwertung der Geschichte (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck ∧ Ruprecht, 1991).Google Scholar

2. See Rainer indner, Historiker und Herrschaft. Nationsbildung und Geschichtspolitik in Weiβruβland im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert (Munich: R. Oldenburg Verlag, 1999), pp. 400–478; Lindner, “Nationsbildung durch Nationalgeschichte. Probleme der aktuellen Geschichtsdiskussion in Weißrußland,” Osteuropa, Vol. 44, No. 6, 1994, pp. 578–590; Andrew Wilson, “National History and National Identity in Ukraine and Belarus,” in Graham Smith et al., eds, Nation-Building in the Post-Soviet Borderlands: The Politics of National Identities (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), pp. 23–47. On Belarusian politics under Lukashenka, see Rainer Lindner, “Domestic and Foreign Policy Conditions behind Structural Change in Ukraine and Belarus,” Aussenpolitik/German Foreign Affairs Review, Vol. 46, No. 4, 1995, pp. 365–375 and Lindner, “Präsidialdiktatur in Weißrußland. Wirtschaft, Politik und Gesellschaft unter Lukašenka,” Osteuropa, Vol. 47, Nos 10–11, 1997, pp. 1038–1052.Google Scholar

3. Confino, Michael, “Present Events and the Representation of the Past. Some Current Problems in Russian Historical Writing,” Cahiers du Monde russe, Vol. 35, No. 4, 1994, pp. 839–868.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

4. Instytut historyi Akademii navuk Belarusi, ed., Narysy historyi Belarusi (Minsk: Belarus, 1994–1995); see also Lindner, “Continuity an Change in Post-Soviet Historiography: The Case of Belarus,” in Richard Sakwa, ed., The Experience of Democratization in Eastern Europe (London: MacMillan Press, 1999), pp. 62–71.Google Scholar

5. R. H. Symonenko, Do kontseptsiï bahatotomnoï, “Istoriï ukraïnskoho narodu” (Mizhnatsionalnyi ta mizhnarodnyi aspekty), in Instytut istorii Ukrainy AN Ukraïny, ed., Istorychni soshyty (Kyïv: Akademiya nauk Ukrainy, 1993).Google Scholar

6. L. Abetsedarski, U svyatle neabverezhnykh faktau (Minsk: Navuka, 1969), p. 12; Instytut historyi AN BSSR, ed., Historyya Belaruskai SSR, Vol. 1, Pad red. I. M. Ihnatsenka (Minsk: Navuka, 1972), p. 175.Google Scholar

7. Institut istorii AN BSSR, ed., Ocherk po arkheologii Belorussii, Part 2, Pod red. G.V. Shtykhova, L.D. Pobolya (Minsk: Nauka, 1972), p. 214.Google Scholar

8. See M. Charnyauski, “Vytoki,” Belaruskaya dumka, Vol. 2, No. 2, 1992, pp. 62–69; Mikola Ermalovich, Starazhytnaya Belarus: Polatskae i novaharodskae peryyady (Minsk: Batskaushchyna, 1990), p. 46.Google Scholar

9. Narysy historyi Belarusi, op. cit., Vol. 1, pp. 40–50. New perspectives: M. F. Pilipenka, “Pakhodzhanne Belarusau,” in Dapamozhnik pa historyi Belarusi, Pad red. A.H. Kachanouskaha et al. (Minsk: NKF “Ekaperspektyva”, 1995), pp. 15–23; M. F. Pilipenka, Vozniknovenie Belorussii: Novaya kontseptsiya (Minsk: Nauka, 1991).Google Scholar

10. A. F. Rogalev, Belaya Rus i Belorusy. V poiskakh istokov (Gomel: Tipografija BelGUTa, 1994).Google Scholar

11. Trubachou, Aleh, “Ne ad belaj adzezhy i svetlych vachej,” Belaruskaya Minuushchyna, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1993, p. 8.Google Scholar

12. Charopka, Vitaut, “Dze padzelasya karaleuskaya karona Vitauta Vyalikaha?” in I. Saverchanka, Zm. Sanko, eds., 100 pytannyau i adkasau z historyi Belarusi (Minsk: Zvyazda, 1993), p. 21.Google Scholar

13. Lojka, Pavel, “Unutry-i zneshnepalitychnae stanovishcha Vyalikaha Knyastva Litouskaha u XIV—pershaj palove XVI St.,” Dapamozhnik pa historyi Belarusi, op. cit ., pp. 54–58.Google Scholar

14. Konan, Uladzimir, “Belaruskaya ideya i misiya Belarusi,” Belaruskaya dumka, Vol. 1, No. 4, 1992, pp. 6–25.Google Scholar

15. Ibid., p. 12.Google Scholar

16. Arlou, Uladimir, “U palone histarychnykh mifau,” Holas Radzimy , 15 June 1995, pp. 3, 5.Google Scholar

17. Rostau, Anatol, “Rusin plemeni belarusau,” Belaruskaya Minuushchyna, Vol. 2, No. 1, 1994, pp. 18–20.Google Scholar

18. LA. Maslyanitsyna, “Mitskevich (Mickiewicz) Adam,” in B. I. Sachanka et al., eds, Myslitseli i asvetniki Belarusi (Minsk: Belaruskaya Entsyklapedyya, 1995), pp. 498–505; Zdislau Sitsko, “Alyaksej Pyatkevich: paema Adama Mitskevicha Tan Tadevush'—adbitak belaruskaha svetaadchuvannya,” Nasha Slova, 28 December 1994, p. 6. See also Kastus Tarasau, “Nachalnik paustannya,” in Pamyats pra lehendy (Minsk: Polymya, 1994), pp. 199— 210, and Kastus Tarasau, “… Ajchyna dum maikh,” in ibid., pp. 213–228.Google Scholar

19. Ju. Ja. Gutorenko, T. I. Ulevich, eds, Iz tmy vekov svetlejushchie liki (Minsk: Belarus, 1994).Google Scholar

20. Hrytskevich, Anatol, “Historyia heapalitiki Belarusi,” Spadchyna, No. 1, 1994, pp. 85–93; No. 3, pp. 39–51; No. 4, pp. 48–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

21. Kaslou, Leu, Anatol Tsitou, Belarus na syami rubyazhakh (Minsk: Belarus 1993); Viktar Tsitou, “Belarus na histarychnykh kartakh,” Holas Radzimy, 21 September 1995, pp.4.Google Scholar

22. Antsipenka, Ales, “Eurapejskasts i khrystsiyanskaya ideya Belaruskastsi,” Belarusika/Albaruthenica, Vol. 2, pp. 259–262.Google Scholar

23. Razanin, Jaraslau, “Azija u ‘tsentry Europy’,” Nasha Slova , 22 November 1995, p. 5.Google Scholar

24. Haretski, Radzim, “Dzyarzhaunasts na Belarusi mae bolsh chym tysyachahadovuyu historiyu,” Belaruskaya Minuushchyna, Vol. 2, No. 1, 1994, pp. 4–6; Ihar Sharukha, “Heahrafichny tsentar Europy—u Belarusi,” Spadchyna, No. 6, 1994, pp. 109–110.Google Scholar

25. Dzjarnovich, Aleh, “Aposhnija dni histaryjahrafii,” Nasha Niva , No. 15, 1993, p. 11.Google Scholar

26. M. Ulashchyk, “Zauvahi na ‘pismo’ A.I. Saleskaha ’Ot ideolohicheskikh vyvichov k natsionalismu i antisovetchine‘ 30 July, 1982,” Belaruski Histarychny Ahlyad, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1996, pp. 47–52.Google Scholar

27. I. M. Ignatenko, “Vazhnaya data. 40-letie Instituta istorii partii pri TsK KPB,” Kommunist Belorussii, No. 6, 1969, pp. 27–32; N. N., “Patriarkh histarychnai navuki: Ilaryen Myafodevich Ihnatsenka,” Belaruskaya Minuushchyna, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1996, p. 61.Google Scholar

28. “Zayavlenie Belorusskogo respublikanskogo i Minskogo nauchnogo obedinenij ‘Istoricheskie znanija’: O positsiyakh i roli Presidenta Respubliki Belarus v nyneshnem sotsialno-ekonomicheskom i moralno-politicheskom polozhenii strany,” Narodnaya Hazeta , 16 August 1996, p. 2.Google Scholar

29. Zhurauski, Arkadz, “Histarychnaya prauda ne pavinna skazatstsa. Ab suresnykh nedakhopakh vydannya ‘Entsyklapedyya historyi Belarusi’,” Narodnaya Hazeta , 1 August 1996, pp. 2–3. See their “open letter” to Lukashenka: “Otkrytoe pismo Presidentu Respubliki Belarus A. G. Lukashenko. 'Rabota po vosstanovleniyu istoricheskoj pravdy podvergaetsya yarostnomu soprotivleniyu so storony natsional-ekstremistov, pretenduyushchikh na istinu v poslednej instantsii,” Narodnaya Hazeta, 19 June 1996, p. 3.Google Scholar

30. “Sayavlenie Belorusskogo respublikanskogo i Minskogo nauchnogo obedinenij,” op. cit .Google Scholar

31. Lindner, “Nyasmennasts i smeny u postsavetskaj histaryyahrafii Belarusi,” Kantakty i dyyalohi , No. 3, 1996, pp. 20–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

32. P. Ts. Petrykau, “Tuman ‘russafobii’ achutau Belaruskuyu Entsyklapedyyu,” Belaruskaya Dumka, Vol. 3, No. 3, 1996, p 3.Google Scholar

33. See M. P. Kastsyuk, “Natsyyanalnaya kantseptsyya historyi Belarusi: Asnounyya padkhody,” Ministerstva adukacyi Respubliki Belarus, Belaruski dzyarzhauny universitet, Instytut historyi Akademii navuk Belarusi, eds, Histarychnaya navuka i histarychnaya adukatsyja u Respublitsy Belarusi. Novyya kantseptsyi i padkhody. U dzvyukh chastkakh. Chastka 1: Historyya Belarusi (Minsk: Universitetskae, 1994), pp. 3–10. Thinking theoretically: Henadz Sahanovich, “Natsyyanalnasts historyi yak navuki,” Belaruski Histarychny Ahlyad/Belarusan Historical Review, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1994, pp. 5–14.Google Scholar

34. “Bitva na poli historyi” (Interview with P. Ts. Petrykau), Holas Radzimy , 18 July 1996, p. 3.Google Scholar

35. Kastsyuk, Mikhas, “Palityzavannaya historyya ne mozha byts sapraudnaj navukaj,” Holas Radzimy , 8 August 1996, pp. 1, 3.Google Scholar

36. Bich, Mikhas,'Tuman dyletantstva i tendentsyinastsi, Holas Radzimy , 12 September 1996, pp. 3, 5.Google Scholar

37. Kastsyuk, “Palityzavannaja historyja,” p. 3.Google Scholar

38. See Leanid Lych, “Chaho damahayutstsa falsifikatary?” Narodnaya Hazeta, 17 August 1993, p. 2; Mikhas Kastsyuk, “Bez histarychnykh vedau nelha paspyakhova budavats nesalezhnuyu dzjarzhavu,” Belaruskaya Minuushchyna, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1996, pp. 2–4.Google Scholar

39. David R. Marples, “Kuropaty: The Investigation of a Stalinist Historical Controversy,” Slavic Review, Vol. 53, No. 2, 1994, pp. 513–523.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

40. Entsyklapedyya Historyi Belarusi, Vol. 2 (Minsk: Entsyklapedyya, 1994), p. 505, and Entsyklapedyya Historyi Belarusi, Vol. 4 (Minsk: Entsyklapedyya, 1997), p. 313. See also M. Kryvaltsevich “Kurapaty yak pomnik historyi i abekt palityki,” Belaruski Khelsinski kamitet, Belaruskaya Assatsyyatsyya akhvyar palitychnykh represij, eds, Palitychnyya represii na Belarusi u XX stahoddzi. Materyyaly navukova-praktychnaj kanferentsyi (Minsk, 27–28 lyutaha 1998 h.) (Minsk, Cheboksary: Chebos, 1998), pp. 247–253.Google Scholar

41. Kathleen E. Smith, Remembering Stalin's Victims. Popular Memory and the End of the USSR (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1996).Google Scholar

42. Lindner, “Wissenschaft im Stalinismus: Das Institut für Geschichte der AN BSSR,” in Palitychnyya represii na Belarusi u XX stahoddzi, op. cit ., pp. 200–215.Google Scholar

43. See footnote 40; Svetlana Karpekova, “Belorusskie istoriki opasay” Izvestiia.Google Scholar