Narratives of Diasporic Identities in Popular Culture: Belarus after 2020

In 2020, political mass mobilization in Belarus following the rigged presidential election was violently repressed, resulting in increased migration. Unlike previous waves of migration, the current movement is marked by a significant rise in overall numbers, particularly among skilled professionals. This group includes numerous scholars, artists, writers, theatre practitioners and filmmakers, and other cultural professionals who contribute to what is now widely recognized as Belarusian culture in exile.

This interdisciplinary project explores the narratives of cultural identity that have emerged in recent Belarusian (popular) culture produced in exile. Drawing on theories of diasporic identity from cultural and migration studies, the project focuses on processes of transformation and hybridization that occur when cultural identifications are in flux. Through the analysis of popular cultural formats and media products, it examines the dynamics of negotiation, conflict, resistance, conformity, and contradiction among different diaspora agents and communities, including the emergence of counter-narratives.

By deliberately using the plural term “diasporas,” the project emphasizes the heterogeneous nature of the Belarusian migrant communities. An intersectional approach highlights their diversity with regard to gender, age, class, legal and migrant status, political and religious orientations, as well as differing migration trajectories over time. Integrating perspectives from literary, cultural, media, music, and performance studies, the project ultimately aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the contradictions, tensions, and challenges faced by diasporic communities.

Fig. above: Masha Sviatahor: Sleeping Girls Leaving the City (detail), from the series Kurasoushchyna, My Love, 2016. © Masha Sviatahor