Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-281) and index.
Contents:
From Ethnos to a Nation (Belarusians in the 9th to 19th Centuries) -- Belarusian Statehood in the Twentieth Century -- Belarusian-Ukrainian/Western-Ruthenian Civilization -- Belarusians and Ukrainians Belong to Western Civilization -- The Conditions for Nation-building in Belarus in the Late Twentieth Century -- General Information about Modern Belarus -- National Identity and Language -- The Mentality of Belarusian Society (Belarusianess) -- Church and Nation -- Theoretical Models of the Belarusian National State Construction -- Under the "Patronage" of Russia -- "Belarus to Europe" -- Neutrality by Form and Content and Europeanism by Spirit -- Belarusian Elites and Nation-building Today -- The Revolution of Hope.
Summary:
"Belarus, a middle-sized nation with more than a thousand years of history, is not well known beyond periodic media headlines. Modern scholarly and popular literature covers only fragments from Belarus's long history and current geopolitical, social, and cultural issues. Belarusian history in this book differs in many aspects from history and myths created by Russian scholars and propagated worldwide. The author argues for the existence of a Western-Ruthenian (Belarusian-Ukrainian) civilization as a sub-civilization of Western civilization and thus different from Eurasian civilization. With original, detailed, and critical views on Belarusian history from the ninth century to the present, it explores the latest information about Belarusian society regarding mentality, identity, religion, current elites, the Revolution of Hope 2020. It then analyzes the future prospects of Belarus based on an assessment of modern trends in human societal and political development. It provides detailed analysis of current activities of Belarusian national and ruling elites and their ideologies vis-à-vis the building of a nation-state"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.