Historical memory and national identity of Belarusians and Russians: experience of historical and sociological research

  • Petr S. Kruchek Belarusian State Technological University, 13a Sviardlova Street, Minsk 220006, Belarus
  • Vadim N. Rakachev Kuban State University, 149 Stavropol’skaya Street, Krasnodar 350040, Russia
  • Yaroslava V. Rakacheva Kuban State University, 149 Stavropol’skaya Street, Krasnodar 350040, Russia
  • Vsevolod N. Sergeev University of Civil Protection of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus, 25 Mashynabudawnikow Street, Minsk 220118, Belarus
  • Victor A. Astroga Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

Abstract

Based on the results of a historical and sociological study conducted among student youth in Belarus and Rus­sia, the specifics of the relationship between historical memory and collective identity are examined from different theoretical and methodological approaches. It is noted that Belarusian students have a strongly expressed ethnonational identity, their historical memory is concentrated on images of the national past, ideas of ethnocultural identity and state independence, and historical consciousness is aimed mainly at the near past and present. Among Russian students, the civic-state identity prevails; their historical consciousness is drawn to the distant past. It is concluded that the presence of a common history between the two peoples and the reflection of past events in the historical memory of Belarusian and Russian young people suggests that they have a single, predominantly retrospectively oriented, collective identity.

Author Biographies

Petr S. Kruchek, Belarusian State Technological University, 13a Sviardlova Street, Minsk 220006, Belarus

PhD (history), docent; head of the department of history of Belarus and political science, economic engineering faculty

Vadim N. Rakachev, Kuban State University, 149 Stavropol’skaya Street, Krasnodar 350040, Russia

doctor of science (history), docent; professor at the department of sociology, faculty of history, sociology and international relations

Yaroslava V. Rakacheva, Kuban State University, 149 Stavropol’skaya Street, Krasnodar 350040, Russia

PhD (history), docent; associate professor at the department of sociology, faculty of history, sociology and international relations

Vsevolod N. Sergeev, University of Civil Protection of the Ministry for Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus, 25 Mashynabudawnikow Street, Minsk 220118, Belarus

PhD (history), docent; head of the department of humanitarian sciences

Victor A. Astroga, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliezhnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

doctor of science (history), full professor; head of the department of customs affairs, faculty of international relations

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Published
2024-05-03
Keywords: historical memory, national identity, Belarus, Russia, collective memory, historical consciousness
Supporting Agencies The article was prepared as part of the joint Russian-Belarusian project «Historical culture of Belarusians and Russians: formation of ideas about the national and common past», implemented with the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (No. 20-59-00017/20) and the Belarusian Republican Foundation for Basic Research (No. G20R-227).
How to Cite
Kruchek P. S., Rakachev V. N., Rakacheva Y. V., Sergeev V. N., Astroga V. A. Historical memory and national identity of Belarusians and Russians: experience of historical and sociological research // Journal of the Belarusian State University. History. 2024. 2. PP. 5-16.
Issue
No 2 (2024): Journal of the Belarusian State University. History
Section
Belarusian History

Copyright (c) 2024 Journal of the Belarusian State University. History

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