This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(July 2021)
The first signs of this shift were noticed in 2014 when Lukashenko, for the first time, gave the Independence Day speech in Belarusian.[1][2] There are several explanations given to this change. Lukashenko himself said it is a warning for those who "encroach on the unity of the nation". Alexander Yarashevich thinks it is an attempt to distance from Russia in view of the (then) recent events in Ukraine. It is also explained as an attempt to enhance the national identity of Belarus by catering to nationalist-oriented opposition movements.[1][3][2][4]
The 2019 document "Doctrine of Information Security of the Republic of Belarus" says: "The Belarusian language, along with constitutionally established bilingualism in the state, contributes to enhancing national identity of the Belarusian society and formation of its spirituality. Expansion of social functions and communicative possibilities of the Belarusian language, its full and comprehensive development alongside other elements of national culture act as guarantor of the state’s humanitarian security."[2][5] At the same time, Belarusian officials use an evasive language to indicate the "soft Belarusization" means neither distancing from Russia nor a definite turn to the West.[2]
There has also been an observed shift in the attitude to the historical Belarusian symbols and events, which were a sharp rift between the Belarusian establishment and the opposition, including the White-red-white flag[2] and the anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic.[6]
Two new monuments, to Tadeusz Kościuszko and to Duke Algirdas, are also viewed as an element of enhancing the Belarusian identity as well as a confrontation with the Russian World: Kościuszko led a 1794 uprising against the Russian Empire and Algirdas expanded the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with the lands of the modern Belarus.[2]
The scope of "soft Belarusization" remains limited. In particular, in 2019, the draft-law about the state support of Belarusian language was not accepted.[7]
Even this "soft" policy caused enough criticism from Russia that Lukashenko himself spoke out: "It's disgusting to listen to some of the Russian partisan “tongues” that we've almost got soft Belarusization going on here, that we have something else going on here, that we are almost U-turning somewhere."[8] Russian critics see this policy as Lukashenko's shift away from his support of the Belarus-Russia integration strategy.[9]
Referencesedit
^ ab"Belarus leader switches to state language from Russian", BBC, July 10, 2014
^ abcdefIvan Prosokhin, "Soft Belarusization: (Re)building of Identity or “Border Reinforcement”?" doi:10.11649/ch.2019.005
^"Belarus in the multipolar world: Lukashenka bets on himself"
^"Belarusization 2.0.: Will the Russian threat help Belarusization?"
^"Doctrine of Information Security of the Republic of Belarus"
^"Мягкая белорусизация. Как Минск стремится обособиться от Москвы" ("Soft Belarusization: How Minsk Tries to Separate Itself from Moscow")
^""Мягкая белорусизация" закончилась не начавшись?" ("Did Soft Belarusization End without Starting?")
^"Lukashenka: It's Disgusting To Hear That We've Almost Got Soft Belarusization Going On Here"
^Vadim Mojeiko, "Soft Belarusization: A New Shift in Lukashenka’s Domestic Policy?", BelarusDigest, April 21, 2015
Further readingedit
Ivan Posokhin, "Soft Belarusization: (Re)building of Identity or “Border Reinforcement”", COLLOQUIA HUMANISTICA, no. 8, 2019, doi:10.11649/ch.2019.005
Marin, A. (2020). Belarusian Nationalism in the 2010s: a Case of Anti-Colonialism? Origins, Features and Outcomes of Ongoing ‘Soft Belarusianisation’, Journal of Belarusian Studies, 9(1), 27-50. doi:10.30965/20526512-12340003
January 01, 1970
soft, belarusization, this, article, factual, accuracy, compromised, date, information, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, help, update, this, article, reflect, recent, events, newly, available, information, july, 2021, soft, belarusification, be. This article s factual accuracy may be compromised due to out of date information Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information July 2021 Soft Belarusization or soft Belarusification Belarusian myakkaya belarusizacyya romanized miakkaja bielarusizacyja Russian myagkaya belorusizaciya romanized myagkaya belorusizatsiya is an element of the domestic policy of President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko aimed at the gradual increase of the presence of Belarusian language and partial reversal of the ages of Russification of Belarus The first signs of this shift were noticed in 2014 when Lukashenko for the first time gave the Independence Day speech in Belarusian 1 2 There are several explanations given to this change Lukashenko himself said it is a warning for those who encroach on the unity of the nation Alexander Yarashevich thinks it is an attempt to distance from Russia in view of the then recent events in Ukraine It is also explained as an attempt to enhance the national identity of Belarus by catering to nationalist oriented opposition movements 1 3 2 4 The 2019 document Doctrine of Information Security of the Republic of Belarus says The Belarusian language along with constitutionally established bilingualism in the state contributes to enhancing national identity of the Belarusian society and formation of its spirituality Expansion of social functions and communicative possibilities of the Belarusian language its full and comprehensive development alongside other elements of national culture act as guarantor of the state s humanitarian security 2 5 At the same time Belarusian officials use an evasive language to indicate the soft Belarusization means neither distancing from Russia nor a definite turn to the West 2 There has also been an observed shift in the attitude to the historical Belarusian symbols and events which were a sharp rift between the Belarusian establishment and the opposition including the White red white flag 2 and the anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic 6 Two new monuments to Tadeusz Kosciuszko and to Duke Algirdas are also viewed as an element of enhancing the Belarusian identity as well as a confrontation with the Russian World Kosciuszko led a 1794 uprising against the Russian Empire and Algirdas expanded the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with the lands of the modern Belarus 2 The scope of soft Belarusization remains limited In particular in 2019 the draft law about the state support of Belarusian language was not accepted 7 Even this soft policy caused enough criticism from Russia that Lukashenko himself spoke out It s disgusting to listen to some of the Russian partisan tongues that we ve almost got soft Belarusization going on here that we have something else going on here that we are almost U turning somewhere 8 Russian critics see this policy as Lukashenko s shift away from his support of the Belarus Russia integration strategy 9 References edit a b Belarus leader switches to state language from Russian BBC July 10 2014 a b c d e f Ivan Prosokhin Soft Belarusization Re building of Identity or Border Reinforcement doi 10 11649 ch 2019 005 Belarus in the multipolar world Lukashenka bets on himself Belarusization 2 0 Will the Russian threat help Belarusization Doctrine of Information Security of the Republic of Belarus Myagkaya belorusizaciya Kak Minsk stremitsya obosobitsya ot Moskvy Soft Belarusization How Minsk Tries to Separate Itself from Moscow Myagkaya belorusizaciya zakonchilas ne nachavshis Did Soft Belarusization End without Starting Lukashenka It s Disgusting To Hear That We ve Almost Got Soft Belarusization Going On Here Vadim Mojeiko Soft Belarusization A New Shift in Lukashenka s Domestic Policy BelarusDigest April 21 2015Further reading editIvan Posokhin Soft Belarusization Re building of Identity or Border Reinforcement COLLOQUIA HUMANISTICA no 8 2019 doi 10 11649 ch 2019 005 Marin A 2020 Belarusian Nationalism in the 2010s a Case of Anti Colonialism Origins Features and Outcomes of Ongoing Soft Belarusianisation Journal of Belarusian Studies 9 1 27 50 doi 10 30965 20526512 12340003 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Soft Belarusization amp oldid 1174786236, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
