Belarus Or Belorussia: What's In A Name?

Belarus, or Belorussia, is a name that has been the subject of much debate and discussion. The country's name has been a point of contention in media coverage and political discussions across Europe. While some countries have transitioned to using Belarus in official communications, others continue to use translations of White Russia, such as Wit-Rusland in Dutch and Weißrussland in German. The term Belorussia itself has roots in the Russian Empire and asserted that the territories and peoples of Belarus were variants of Russia and Russians. This association with Russia is further highlighted by the fact that Rus is often conflated with its Latin forms, Russia, and Ruthenia, resulting in Belarus being referred to as White Russia or White Ruthenia.

Belarus or Belorussia?

Belarus, or Belorussia, is a country in Eastern Europe that borders Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. The name "Belarus" is closely related to "Belaya Rus", which translates to "White Rus" in today's Russian language. The term "Rus" has a broader geographical and political meaning than just Russia, encompassing the Eastern Slavic territories of the medieval era that now mostly belong to Belarus and Ukraine. This region was known as Ruthenia in Latin.

The name "White Rus" is believed to have originated in the 13th century, with five possible explanations for its meaning:

• The territory that was not conquered by the Mongolian khans in the 13th century was referred to as "white", symbolizing independence and freedom.
• The name may be derived from the white hair or clothing of the indigenous people in the region.
• The White Rus were Christian, while the Black Rus were pagans.
• The points of the compass were implied, with white representing west, blue for east, black for north, and red for south.
• The White Russian historian Vaclau Lastouski linked the name to paganism, suggesting that in the 12th century, Baltic and Slavic peoples worshipped the god Belobog, or the "white god" in Russian.

The term "Belorussia" emerged during the Russian Empire, asserting that the territories and peoples were Russian variants. After the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, the term "White Russia" caused confusion due to its association with the anti-Bolshevik military force known as the "White Russians" or "the Whites". The name "Belorussia" was officially used until 1991 when the country gained independence and adopted the name "Republic of Belarus".

In some languages, such as Dutch, Afrikaans, and German, the country was often referred to as "White Russia" (Wit-Rusland, Weißrussland). However, there has been a gradual shift towards using "Belarus" in these languages. The Belarusian government and activists have requested that international organisations and media outlets use the name "Belarus" to emphasise the country's independence and sovereignty.

The emergence of the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic

The Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR) emerged in the context of the Russian Revolution of 1905, when peasants joined the uprising against the monarchy. The creation of a Belarusian state was a tumultuous process that unfolded during World War I and the Russian Civil War, which followed the 1917 Revolution.

In 1918, while most of the region was occupied by the German army, an independent Belarusian Democratic Republic was declared. However, as German troops withdrew after the war, the Bolsheviks announced the formation of the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSRB) on January 1, 1919. The SSRB's territorial integrity was short-lived, as Polish troops advanced eastward, only to be pushed back in 1920.

The hostilities between Russia and Poland concluded with the Treaty of Riga, signed on March 18, 1921, which divided Belarus between Poland and Soviet Russia, echoing the First Partition of Poland. The Belorussian SSR was one of the four founding republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), established on December 30, 1922.

The Belorussian SSR expanded eastward in 1924 when Soviet authorities transferred the regions of Polotsk, Vitebsk, Orsha, and Mogilyov, with significant Belarusian populations, from the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic to the Belorussian SSR. Gomel and Rechitsa followed suit in 1926. Under Joseph Stalin's regime, nationalism was discouraged, and the Belorussian SSR, like other constituent republics, was tightly controlled.

The first Five-Year Plan, initiated in 1928, brought new industries to Minsk and other major towns. The 1930s purges targeted many dissidents and intellectuals in the Belorussian SSR. In 1939, following the German attack on Poland and the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union and Germany, the USSR attacked Poland from the east, occupying the Białystok region, home to a substantial Belarusian population. The Western Belarusian territory, previously ceded to Poland, was reinstated as part of the Belorussian SSR.

The German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 overran the Belorussian SSR, but the garrison of the Brest fortress mounted a valiant defence. During the German retreat in 1944, heavy fighting occurred in several areas, including major battles near Vitebsk, Borisov, and Minsk. The German occupation and subsequent retreat resulted in widespread destruction and significant loss of life, with estimates suggesting a death toll of about a quarter of the region's population.

The emergence of independent Belarus

Historical Context

Belarus, officially known as the Republic of Belarus, has a complex historical trajectory, with its lands being part of various states throughout the centuries. During the Middle Ages, the region was under the rule of Kievan Rus', and later it was divided among different principalities, including Polotsk, Turov, and Vitebsk. In the 13th century, the Mongol invasions led to the absorption of these lands by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which subsequently merged with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 16th century. Following the partitions of Poland in the 18th century, Belarusian territories became a part of the Russian Empire.

Revolutionary Turmoil and the Interwar Period

The Russian Revolution of 1917 and the ensuing Civil War brought about significant changes. Competing states arose, ultimately leading to the consolidation of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (Byelorussian SSR) in 1919. This republic became a founding constituent of the Soviet Union in 1922. The interwar period was marked by territorial shifts, with Belarus losing almost half of its territory to Poland following the Polish-Soviet War (1918-1921). The modern borders of Belarus largely took shape after World War II.

World War II and Post-War Years

During World War II, Belarus, then a part of the Soviet Union, suffered devastating losses. The country was occupied by Nazi Germany, and its lands became a battleground between German and Soviet forces. The war resulted in tremendous destruction, with Belarus losing about a quarter of its population and half of its economic resources. After the war, in 1945, the Byelorussian SSR became a founding member of the United Nations, alongside the Soviet Union.

Growing National Sentiment

Amid the political and social transformations occurring in the Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorbachev's leadership in the mid-1980s, a steady growth in national separatist sentiment emerged in the Byelorussian SSR. This sentiment intensified during the crisis of central authority in the early 1990s, as the Soviet Union began to unravel.

Declaration of Sovereignty and Independence

On July 27, 1990, the Byelorussian SSR proclaimed its sovereignty, taking a decisive step toward independence. This was followed by a declaration of full independence from the USSR on August 25, 1991, in the wake of the failed August Coup against Gorbachev. The Byelorussian SSR renamed itself the Republic of Belarus and joined the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), severing its formal ties with the Soviet Union.

Constitutional Changes and First Presidential Election

In 1994, Belarus adopted a new constitution, paving the way for the country's first democratic presidential election. Alexander Lukashenko was elected as the country's first president, marking a pivotal moment in the country's post-independence history. Lukashenko has maintained a highly centralized and authoritarian government, often drawing criticism from international observers for his undemocratic practices.

Belarus in the 21st century

Belarus, or Belorussia, in the 21st century has been characterised by a struggle between dictatorship and democracy. The country has experienced an upsurge of popular support for change, with the old regime, aiming to retain Soviet-era policies, being challenged by increasing social mobilisation and demands for a transformation of state-society relations. This has led to a fundamental shift in Belarusian society, bringing hope for eventual change.

The name "Belarus" is derived from "Belaya Rus", which means ""White Rus" in Russian. The term "Rus" is often associated with Russia, but it has a broader meaning, referring to the Eastern Slavic territories of the medieval era, which included present-day Belarus and Ukraine, known as Ruthenia. The name "Belarus", therefore, translates to ""White Ruthenia".

In the 21st century, Belarus has been governed by an old regime, reluctant to reform and presiding over worsening economic conditions. The regime has also been criticised for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, there has been a growing societal mobilisation demanding change. This mobilisation has taken the form of bottom-up and horizontal social movements, which has led to a fundamental shift in Belarusian society.

The country has a complex history with its name. While the official name is now "Republic of Belarus", the country was previously known as "Byelorussia" or "Belorussia", especially during the Soviet era. The term "Belorussia" first emerged during the Russian Empire, asserting that the territory and its people were Russian variants. After the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, the term "White Russia" caused confusion as it was also used to refer to the military force opposing the Red Bolsheviks. During the Byelorussian SSR period, the term "Byelorussia" was embraced as part of a national consciousness, especially in the western regions under Polish control.

In recent years, there has been a push to standardise the country's name as "Belarus" internationally. The Belarusian government has requested that the international community use the term "Belarus" in line with UN standards. Some countries, such as Sweden, have changed their official naming policies to respect the will of the Belarusian people and emphasise the country's national identity and sovereignty. However, several European countries still use translations of "White Russia", such as "Wit-Rusland" in Dutch and "Weißrussland" in German.

Belarusian history and its regional forces

The history of Belarus is less a national narrative and more a study of regional forces and their interplay and effects on the Belarusian people. Belarusians share a distinct ethnic identity and language, but they have rarely enjoyed unity and political sovereignty. The territory that is now Belarus has been partitioned and changed hands repeatedly, so much of the country's history is inseparable from that of its neighbours.

During the Middle Ages, the lands that are now Belarus became part of Kievan Rus' and were split between different regional principalities, including Polotsk, Turov, and Vitebsk. Following the Mongol invasions of the 13th century, these lands were absorbed by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which later merged into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 16th century.

In the 18th century, after the partitions of Poland, Belarusian territories became part of the Russian Empire. In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, different states arose, competing for legitimacy amid the Russian Civil War, ultimately ending with the consolidation of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, which became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union when it was founded in 1922.

During World War II, Belarus, then known as the Byelorussian SSR, was devastated by the German occupation. Its territory was expanded after Western Belorussia was annexed by the Soviet Union as a result of the war. Belarus became an independent state in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Since independence, Belarus has retained close ties with Russia, its most dominant neighbour. In 1999, the two countries signed the Union State Foundation Treaty, which aimed to create a politically integrated confederation with a common currency. The precise nature of the partnership, however, remained unclear well into the 21st century.

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