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Rejecting the cliché about “weak identity and underdeveloped nationalism,” Bekus argues for the co-existence of two parallel concepts of Belarusianness—the official and the alternative one—which mirrors the current state of the Belarusian people more accurately and allows for a different interpretation of the interconnection between the democratization and nationalization of Belarusian society.

The book describes how the ethno-symbolic nation of the Belarusian nationalists, based on the cultural capital of the Golden Age of the Belarusian past (17th century) competes with the “nation” institutionalized and reified by the numerous civic rituals and social practices under the auspices of the actual Belarusian state.

Comparing the two concepts not only provides understanding of the logic that dominates Belarusian society’s self-description models, but also enables us to evaluate the chances of alternative Belarusianness to win this unequal struggle over identity. 

Table of Contents

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  1. Cover
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  1. Title Page
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  1. Copyright Page
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  1. Contents
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  1. Introduction
  2. pp. 1-10
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  1. PART I. NATION IN THEORY
  1. 1. Nation-Formation Strategies in Contemporary Nation-Studies
  2. pp. 13-26
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  1. 2. State and Nation
  2. pp. 27-31
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  1. 3. Nationalism, Capitalism, Liberalism: The East European Perspective
  2. pp. 33-40
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  1. 4. Nationalism and Socialism: The Soviet Case
  2. pp. 41-50
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  1. PART II. THE RISE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BELARUSIAN NATIONAL IDEA
  1. 5. The First Belarusian Nationalist Movement: Between National and Class Interests
  2. pp. 53-67
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  1. 6. Byelorussian Republic within the Soviet State
  2. pp. 69-77
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  1. 7. Post-Soviet Conditions for Independence
  2. pp. 79-82
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  1. PART III. BELARUSIAN POST-COMMUNISM
  1. 8. The Election of the First Belarusian President as a Mirror of Belarusian Preferences
  2. pp. 85-91
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  1. 9. “Labels” of the Belarusian Regime
  2. pp. 93-97
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  1. 10. “Triple Transformation” and Belarus
  2. pp. 99-120
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  1. 11. Prerequisites of Democratization and Authoritarianism in Belarus
  2. pp. 121-129
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  1. PART IV. ARGUMENTS AND PARADOXES OF WEAK BELARUSIAN IDENTITY
  1. 12. Belarus as an Example of National and Democratic Failure
  2. pp. 133-138
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  1. 13. The Russian Factor in Belarusian Self-Perception
  2. pp. 139-144
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  1. 14. The Paradox of “National Pride”
  2. pp. 145-150
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  1. 15. Paradoxes of Political and Linguistic Russification
  2. pp. 151-155
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  1. 16. Lack of Religious Basis for National Unity
  2. pp. 157-159
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  1. PART V. THE STRUGGLE OVER IDENTITY
  1. 17. Two Ideas of “Belarusianness”
  2. pp. 163-168
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  1. 18. Belarusian-Specific Nature of the Public Sphere: “Invisible Wall”
  2. pp. 169-177
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  1. 19. Belarusian History: The Alternative and Official Historical Narrations
  2. pp. 179-196
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  1. 20. Political Discourses of the Alternative Belarusianness
  2. pp. 197-210
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  1. 21. National Ideology of the Belarusian State as a Political Articulation of Official Belarusianness
  2. pp. 211-220
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  1. PART VI. CULTURAL MANIFESTATION VERSUS SOCIAL REIFICATION
  1. 22. Two Approaches to the Politics of Identity
  2. pp. 223-225
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  1. 23. Belaruski Globus: An Encyclopedia of What Existed before Communism
  2. pp. 227-228
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  1. 24. The Belarusian National Film Misterium Occupation: Distancing Themselves from Soviets and Russians
  2. pp. 229-233
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  1. 25. The “Free Theater” or the Alternative Belarusianness on Stage
  2. pp. 235-240
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  1. 26. Independent Rock Music: Critical Reflection and Protest
  2. pp. 241-251
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  1. 27. Medieval Reenactors: A Manifestation of Belarus’s European History
  2. pp. 253-259
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  1. 28. The Official Politics of Identity: Social Reification Strategy
  2. pp. 261-276
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  1. Conclusion
  2. pp. 277-282
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  1. Bibliography
  2. pp. 283-301
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  1. Index
  2. pp. 303-306
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  1. Back Cover
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