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This article aims to define Belarusian national identity and propose a national idea for the country's evolution.

May 25, 2026Open Access

Between Passion and Reason: Seeking the Belarusian National Idea

Key Points

This article aims to define Belarusian national identity and propose a national idea for the country's evolution.
Analyzed public discourse on 'national' and 'ethnic' concepts in Belarus
Used Hofstede’s cultural dimensions model to define national identity
Proposed a method for formulating a national idea based on historical examples like The Federalist Papers
Argued that a mature nation’s hallmark is its ability to achieve prosperity
Proposed that national dialogue should focus on rational analysis rather than emotional appeals to ethnic identity
Highlighted the significance of a shared vision for the nation’s evolution

Abstract

The article examines the concepts of “national” and “ethnic” in Belarusian public discourse. It defines Belarusian national identity through the lens of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions model and proposes the national idea as a shared vision for the nation’s evolution. The article argues that the only hallmark of a mature nation, and the true source of its independence, is its ability to achieve prosperity. The article proposes a method for formulating a national idea based on the historical example of the United States of America (The Federalist Papers) and encourages the continuation of national dialogue from a standpoint of rational analysis rather than an emotional appeal to ethnic identity.

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