The Communist Legacy as a Factor Shaping Belarusian Political Culture and National Identity

Abstract

This research investigates how the post‑communist legacy has shaped political culture and national identity in Belarus. It examines the extent to which institutions, societal norms, and strategic paradigms of the Soviet era have influenced governance practices and attempts at nation‑building in Belarusian policies. Drawing on scholarly literature, policy analyses, and contemporary political developments, two interconnected dimensions are analysed: the persistence of authoritarianism and centralised state authority, as well as societal nostalgia. Ultimately, this paper concludes that post‑communist legacies serve as a powerful explanatory framework for Belarus’s domestic stagnation and dual national identity.