ABSTRACT
Mass protests against brutal violations and falsification of the presidential elections (9 August 2020) became the most important event in the modern history of Belarus. It was not just about the popular uprising which attracted international attention; above all what matters the most is that it contributed to the rise of the Belarusian peoplehood, and its mobilization for the revival of a democratic state. The authoritarian regime managed to temporarily suppress the open protest movement, but this did not resolve the contradictions between civil society and the government; rather it significantly deepened them. The chapter analyzes the nature of Lukashenka's personalistic rule in Belarus and its supporting pillars. The countering force to the regime is the bourgeoning Belarusian nation, which grows stronger daily, with more young Belarusians involved in and beyond the country. The resolution of the Belarusian crisis and its timing will depend on a combination of many interrelated internal and external factors, explored in this chapter.
