Belarus - A Silenced History - by Toni Stenström (Paperback)

About the Book

This book argues that Russian assimilation policies and the labeling of Belarus as "Russia's little brother" have been elements of a deliberate imperialistic policy, as Belarus shares most of its history with Poland and Lithuania.

Book Synopsis

The importance of Belarus to European security has increased in recent years, but the history and identity of the country have yet to be uncovered by the broader public. Throughout the centuries, the various rulers of Belarus have intentionally silenced its national history to distance Belarus from its European context.

This historical book aims to demonstrate that Russian assimilation policies and the labeling of Belarus as "Russia's little brother" have been elements of a deliberate imperialistic policy, as Belarus shares most of its history with Poland and Lithuania.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine dominated international headlines in 2022. Belarus officially supported Russia in the war, yet hundreds of Belarusian volunteers enlisted in the Ukrainian army. Meanwhile, the Belarusian opposition organized itself in Poland and Lithuania, and a concrete wall emerged along the border with Belarus.

Is Belarus destined to remain isolated from Europe and an extension of Russian geopolitics, or can it restore its historical connections to Poland and Lithuania? How have Belarusians defined their identity, and how have their international relations evolved over the centuries?

Toni Stenström provides a new and unique insight into one of Europe's most unknown countries.

Review Quotes

Stenström is passionately interested in his subject. He has gathered unique source material from Belarusian archives.--Salla Nazarenko, Finnish journalist and author.

The author's fundamental strength lies in his familiarity with Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and Poland and his language skills. These abilities have allowed him to compensate for the limited availability of English-language source material. The book's title correctly indicates that we are talking about silenced history.--Pekka Virkki, Finnish journalist and author

The publication of this history is a significant event, as Belarusians have only received occasional attention alongside the Ukrainians.--Harri Tiido, Estonian journalist and former diplomat

About the Author

Toni Stenström studied international relations, Slavic languages, and Russian and East European Studies at the University of Helsinki from 2012-2019. He worked in diplomatic missions in Russia, Ukraine, and Poland. He has also worked as an interpreter and tour leader on numerous expeditions to Belarus and other destinations in the post-Soviet sphere. Since 2023, he has commented on the situation in Belarus in the Finnish media and participated in podcasts, lectures, and international conferences. His book about Belarusian history was released to the Finnish public by readme.fi in May 2023.