This project aims to investigate how regional civil society in Belarus - communities located outside of the capital city of Minsk - was affected by the turbulent events of 2020. As well as the Covid-19 pandemic, civic actors in Belarus had to contend with a falsified election, nationwide protests, and widespread repression. These crises presented both opportunities and threats for increased civic engagement in Belarus’ regions. Some observers claimed that civic mobilisation around the Covid-19 pandemic response contributed to the unprecedented scale of the subsequent pro-democracy protests. To what extent is this the case? And what will have a stronger, lasting impact on civil society - the pandemic, protest, or repression?
Through a series of outputs, this project engages with these questions. First, a literature review of research on post-independence civil society in Belarus contextualises the project. A podcast series thought the year will engage with scholars conducting fresh research relating to relevant topics, bringing it to the attention of a wider audience. These podcast episodes will be accompanied by a series of short blog posts (300-600 words), written by the researchers, which will also be translated into Russian to make the research more accessible for Belarusians. Then, three separate working papers will map the extent of regional protest, repression and Covid-19 community response across Belarus. Finally, a collection of interviews with regional civic actors and leaders will amplify the voices of civil society, articulating how the legacy of the pandemic, protest and repression is affecting these communities and activities 1-2 years on, and what outsiders can do to help.
