Timothy Snyder — Belarus: Ancient and Modern. A reconsideration of a central European history
A feature of modern authoritarianism is to suppress the particularity of the nation, which is reduced to a generic, nostalgic construct meant to encourage repetitive obedience. The current Belarusian regime, supported by its imperial Russian neighbor, is an extreme example of this. But the history of the Belarusian nation is full of color, unpredictability, and potential. In considering the deeper Belarusian past, we will also be imagining possible futures.