Belarus IV: Past, Current State, and Future of Belarusian Studies (On the 50th Anniversary of Belarusian Studies at ASEEES Conventions)

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Brief Description

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the first panel on Belarus at the ASEEES conference. During the past three decades, Belarus has been represented at ASEEES conventions by 300 speeches (257 papers + 43 roundtable participants), 59 sections (44 panels + 15 roundtables), and three book awards. The paper record was set in 2024 in Boston – 43 papers.
The purpose of this roundtable is to look back at the path that has led up to this point in the field of Belarusian studies as well as to examine the current state and possible future prospects. Such discussion points include: What steps can be taken next? Is an association of Scholars of Belarusian Studies needed? Should there be a Department of Belarusian Studies in one of the US universities? Or, are there alternative steps that are more important in the current political and social situation in Eastern Europe? How are Belarusian studies now, and how should they develop in comparison with other Slavic studies (Polish, Russian, Ukrainian)? Invited guests will share their commentary on past achievements, present work, and plans for the near and distant future.

Sub Unit

• Professional Development, Non-language Pedagogy, State-of-Field

Chair

• R.A. Kaleta, U of Warsaw (Poland)

Roundtable Speakers

• Alana Christine Felton, Pomona College

• Elena Gapova, Western Michigan U / European Humanities U (Lithuania)

• Andrei Kureichyk, U of Chicago

• Sasha Razor, UC Santa Barbara