Unprocessed Trauma?: Serfdom in Belarusian Historical Memory

• In Event: Abolished, Manipulated, Marginalized: Serfdom and Slavery in Politics and Memory in Eastern Europe

Abstract

Serfdom played a crucial role in shaping the socio-economic and cultural landscape of Central and Eastern Europe, yet its memory in Belarus remains fragmented and underexamined. While extensively studied in the positivist and Marxist traditions, its presence in modern Belarusian education, public history, and scholarship is often unfocused and lacks deeper reflection. This paper explores the reasons behind this selective remembrance, its implications for contemporary Belarusian discourse, and how historical memory—or its absence—continues to shape national identity.

Author

• Vitali Byl, U of Bonn (Germany)