Belarus: A Lesson In Resilience For Americans

In the context of the 2020 US presidential election, Americans can learn from Belarusians about how to face the worst of political circumstances and win. Belarus, a post-Soviet republic, has been ruled by the same dictator, Alexander Lukashenko, for over two decades. After the rigged presidential election of August 9, 2020, Belarusians took to the streets to protest, despite facing violent beatings and detentions by riot police. They adapted their protest strategies, forming smaller groups that were harder to disperse and expressed their dissent through colours, flags, and posters. Their resilience and unity sent a powerful message, with some policemen even expressing solidarity with the protesters. As Americans faced their own electoral challenges, they could draw inspiration from the courage and tactics of Belarusians, standing up against authoritarianism and fighting for democracy.

Preparation for election spoiling

Americans can learn a lot from Belarusians about how to prepare for election spoiling. Timothy Snyder, a history professor at Yale University and author of "On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century," outlines a strategy for defending electoral victories against authoritarian chaos, which he calls "the six Ps": preparation, predominance, protest, peace, persistence, and pluralism.

The first P, preparation, is key when anticipating that a local authoritarian figure will attempt to spoil an election. This means understanding the tactics that may be employed to disrupt the electoral process and planning accordingly. In the case of Belarus, citizens were prepared for their authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, to rig the presidential election, which he had done for a quarter of a century. They knew that they needed to get out the vote and win by a wide margin to counter Lukashenko's claims of victory.

To achieve this, it is crucial to mobilize voters and ensure they turn out in large numbers. This involves effective messaging, grassroots organizing, and getting voters excited about the election. It is also essential to have a robust plan for election day itself, including strategies for polling station monitoring and ballot security. Americans can learn from Belarusians' determination to ensure that their votes are counted and their voices are heard.

Additionally, preparation entails developing a comprehensive strategy for responding to election spoiling. This includes legal challenges, public relations, and, if necessary, protest strategies. By anticipating potential challenges and having a plan in place, Americans can be better equipped to protect the integrity of their elections and ensure that the will of the people prevails.

Moreover, preparation also involves building a strong, united front against authoritarianism. This means fostering solidarity among diverse groups, including workers, women, and other marginalized communities. By standing together and making their presence known, Americans can send a powerful message of resistance and protect their democratic rights.

In conclusion, by learning from the courageous example of Belarusians, Americans can better prepare for potential election spoiling and defend their democratic values. Through strategic planning, voter mobilization, and united action, they can safeguard their elections and uphold the principles of free and fair democracy.

Get out the vote

In the context of the 2020 US presidential election, Timothy Snyder, a history professor at Yale University, wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Post about what Americans can learn from Belarus. He argues that Americans who believe that the Democratic Party is their best defense against the rise of authoritarianism need to ask themselves a fundamental question: Given that former President Trump intends to spoil the elections if he can't win them, how can citizens ensure that the winners of the November election take office?

Snyder suggests that Americans can learn from the example set by Belarusians, who faced a similar situation during their presidential election in August 2020. After the rigged election, Belarusians took to the streets to protest, despite facing violence and detention by riot police. They persisted by gathering in smaller groups across the country, making their presence known through symbols, flags, and posters. This led to an outpouring of support from onlookers and even some members of the security forces.

In the face of authoritarianism, Snyder emphasizes the importance of "the six Ps": preparation, predominance, protest, peace, persistence, and pluralism. Preparation involves recognizing the threat of election spoiling and planning accordingly. Predominance refers to getting out the vote and achieving a decisive victory that undermines the authoritarian's legitimacy. When the authoritarian makes their move, it is crucial to protest and take to the streets. Peace entails keeping these demonstrations nonviolent, as acts of violence by the regime only serve to discredit them further. Persistence means continuing to show up and make your voice heard, day after day. Finally, pluralism is about encouraging diverse groups within society, such as workers, women, and doctors, to express their presence and sentiments.

By embracing these principles, Americans can defend their electoral victories and uphold democracy in the face of authoritarian challenges.

Take to the streets

In the face of a rigged election, Belarusians took to the streets to protest. They were met with violence and detention by riot police. However, they did not give up. They regrouped into smaller groups that were harder to disperse and continued to make their presence known. This persistence in the face of adversity is a powerful lesson for Americans.

When faced with injustice, it is important to stand up and make your voice heard. Protesting can be an effective way to bring about change and hold those in power accountable. However, it is crucial to approach these situations strategically and with a commitment to non-violence. As the Belarusians demonstrated, avoiding direct clashes with security forces can help to minimise the risk of harm while still allowing protesters to express their dissent.

Another key lesson from the Belarusians is the importance of preparation and planning. They understood the risks they faced and adapted their tactics to avoid violence and maximise their impact. This included using colours, flags, and posters to convey their message without engaging directly with security forces. Their actions also highlight the power of diverse groups coming together to protest. By mobilising workers, women, and doctors, they demonstrated the breadth of opposition to the regime.

Americans can learn from the courage and resilience of the Belarusians. Taking to the streets can be an effective way to defend democracy and uphold values, but it requires careful planning, a commitment to non-violence, and persistence in the face of adversity. By standing together and refusing to back down, citizens can send a powerful message and work towards positive change.

Finally, the Belarusians' experience underscores the importance of international solidarity. As protesters around the world learn from each other, it becomes clear that the fight for democracy and freedom is a global one. By standing in solidarity with each other, citizens can amplify their voices and work towards a better future for all.

Keep demonstrations nonviolent

In the context of the 2020 US elections, Timothy Snyder, a professor of history at Yale University, writes about what Americans can learn from Belarusians. Snyder notes that the situation in Belarus following the rigged presidential election of August 9, 2020, is a "sharpened preview" of what Americans might face in the November 2020 election.

After Alexander Lukashenko, the "local dictator," claimed an improbable victory, Belarusians took to the streets and were met with violence from riot police. Despite this, the Belarusians persisted and continued to protest, but they did so in smaller groups that were harder to disperse and avoided direct clashes with security forces. This nonviolent approach proved effective as it made it difficult for the regime to justify further violence, and it also helped to build solidarity among the protesters.

Snyder refers to this approach as "peace," one of his "six Ps" of defending an electoral victory against authoritarian chaos. By keeping demonstrations nonviolent, protesters can maintain the moral high ground and make it more difficult for the regime to justify its use of force. This strategy also helps to avoid escalation and minimizes the risk of harm to protesters. It allows protesters to focus on their message and ensures that the regime's violence is visible for all to see.

Additionally, a nonviolent approach can help to build sympathy and support from bystanders and even some members of the security forces. This was evident in the case of Belarus, where onlookers applauded and expressed solidarity, and some policemen even threw away their uniforms, defected, or expressed solidarity with the protesters.

Keeping demonstrations nonviolent can be a powerful tool in the face of authoritarianism. It allows protesters to stand strong without resorting to the regime's tactics and helps to build a broad-based movement for change.

Persistence

In the context of the 2020 US elections, Timothy Snyder, a professor of history at Yale University, wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Post about what Americans can learn from Belarus. He highlights the importance of "the six Ps" of defending an electoral victory against authoritarian chaos, one of which is persistence.

Snyder observes that the Belarusian people demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination in their protests against the rigged presidential election of August 9, 2020. Despite facing violence and detentions by riot police, they refused to give up and continued to make their voices heard. This persistence paid off, as it led to the release of some detained protesters and an apology from the Minister of Internal Affairs for the beatings and detentions.

Americans can learn from the Belarusian people's persistence in the face of adversity. When faced with threats to democracy, it is crucial to remain steadfast and continue taking action. This may involve participating in non-violent demonstrations, spreading awareness, or engaging in other forms of activism. By drawing inspiration from the Belarusian people's courage and resilience, Americans can strengthen their own efforts to protect democratic values and ensure that the will of the people prevails.

Moreover, the Belarusian people's persistence extended beyond the initial protests. They continued to take to the streets, using creative tactics to avoid direct clashes with security forces while still making their presence known. This included forming smaller groups that were harder to disperse, wearing specific colours, waving flags, and holding posters. Their persistence in the face of adversity is a powerful example for Americans to emulate when facing similar challenges.

In conclusion, the Belarusian people's persistence in defending their democratic rights serves as a valuable lesson for Americans. By adopting a similar mindset of determination and resilience, Americans can more effectively safeguard their democratic values and institutions.

Frequently asked questions