Routledge Handbook of Contemporary BelarusEdition 1

The Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Belarus presents a thorough introduction and overview of the country's history, politics, and international relations. Belarus is as a country that has attracted increased attention since the mass anti-authoritarian protests of 2020 and the ensuing dramatic changes, including the rise of a digital dictatorship and the use of Belarus’ territory for launching Russia’s attack against Ukraine in 2022.

Interdisciplinary in focus, the chapters are written by experts in their field and offer a nuanced understanding of the country. The handbook is structured into four thematic clusters:

• International and regional relations;
• Political regime dynamics and the democratic protest;
• Governance, (absent) reform, and the state–society relations; and
• History, identity, and language

A key comprehensive reference work on Belarus offering new and updated research on the country, this handbook will be of interest to an interdisciplinary audience, including those studying Central and Eastern Europe, politics and international relations, comparative politics and authoritarianism, social movements and political protest and history and identity.