Chaos and Freedom: The 1990s in Political Discourse and Cultural Memory in Belarus

• In Event: Between Democracy and Chaos: The 1990s in Political and Cultural Memory in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

The 1990s in Belarus were a period of significant political and social transformation, marked by both newfound freedoms and economic instability. In political discourse, this decade is often portrayed as a time of chaos, used today to legitimize Lukashenko’s authoritarian regime. At the same time, the 1990s are remembered as the period of the only democratic elections in the country’s history. Cultural memory reflects a dual narrative—some recall it as an era of democratic potential and the development of national culture, while others see it as a time of unfulfilled opportunities.

Author

• Anton Saifullayeu, U of Warsaw (Poland)