Belarus as a Crucial Case of Wider Regional and Global Trends: Perspectives on Politics, Society, Law and Culture

Target audience

The targeted audience includes PhD students and other early-career scholars in Political Science, Law, International Relations, European Studies, East European Languages and Cultures; possibly also PhD students in Communication Science and Sociology.

Organizing and scientific committee

Prof. dr. Fabienne Bossuyt; Katsiaryna Lozka (Department of Political Science); Anna Sashchenko (coordinator Eureast Platform, UGent); Ben Dhooge (professor, department of East European Languages and Cultures, UGent); Peter Vermeersch (professor, KUleuven); Maryia Danilovich (postdoc, University of Göttingen and University of Uppsala); Vjosa Musliu (professor, Political Science Department, VUB),; Nadège Boels (PhD student, Political Science Department, VUB); Elizaveta Gaufman (professor, University of Groningen)

Abstract

This specialist course covers contemporary Belarus from political, cultural, legal, and identity-related perspectives. By offering insights on politics, culture, law and society in Belarus, the course seeks to illuminate the relevance and added value of the Belarusian case for contemporary scholarship. In particular, it will demonstrate how Belarus, while being unique in many of its features, is a crucial case of wider trends in Eastern Europe, the post-Soviet space and beyond.

Objectives

Through an interactive course format of lectures, presentations and core readings:

- To place the political, social, legal, and cultural developments in Belarus within broader regional, and global perspectives;

- To showcase the potential and topicality of the Belarusian case, often overlooked in the literature, for a wide set of phenomena that manifest themselves in Eastern Europe, the post-Soviet space and beyond

- To discuss, in a critical way, the application of different approaches, theories, and concepts to the case of Belarus;

- To describe the essential aspects of state- and nation-building in Belarus and problematize the dominant Russo- and West-centric perspectives on the issue;

- To critically assess different narratives about contemporary Belarus and its role in Russia’s war on Ukraine, among other things, through engagement with stakeholders such as artists and film-makers;

- To obtain first-hand feedback from leading experts and peers on the participants’ own research;

- To practice presentation skills, discussion and critical thinking, while engaging in discussion with leading experts.

Dates and venue

21 - 24 October 20225
Venue: De Krook, Miriam Makebaplein 1, 9000 Ghent

Programme

DAY 1 – 21 October 2025

DAY 2 – 22 October 2025

1

DAY 3 – 23 October 2025

DAY 4 – 24 October 2025 

Registration

• Follow this link for the registration and waiting list. We check if you are eligible to participate. Due to limited places, we give priority to PhD students. Your registration will be confirmed by separate e-mail (outlook invite).
• Cancellation of your registration can only be performed by sending an email to doctoralschools@ugent.be.

• The no show policy applies.

Registration fee

Free of charge for Doctoral School members.

Number of participants

Maximum

Language

English

Training method

Four days structured per discipline/perspective: politics, culture, law and society: lectures in the morning, followed by ppts by PhD students + discussion; plus two social/cultural activities

1.     1 keynote lecture and discussion (open to broader public) – 2h
2.     4 lectures with Q&A (1h lecture + 1h discussion) – 8h
3.    sessions of students’ presentations and feedback provided by experts and other scholars joining the specialist  
4.    concluding discussion and feedback – 2h
5. two social/cultural activities (co-funded by Eureast Platform)
   • Movie “Accidental President” + discussion of movie (KASK) – 2h
   •  Exhibition of paintings by Yana Chernova (Paviljoen Charles Vandenhove) – 2h

Evaluation method

Evaluation is based on the attendance of the course and the delivery of a presentation of a chosen topic.

After successful participation, the Doctoral School Office will add this course to your curriculum of the Doctoral Training Programme in Oasis. Please note that this can take up to one to two months after completion of the course.