Belorussian
Quick Summary
The term "Belorussian" refers to the people and language of Belarus. Ethnic Belarusians constitute the majority of the country's population, with Russians forming the second-largest group. Historically, Belarusian culture and language began to take shape under the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 14th century.1
The Belarusian language is an East Slavic language, closely related to Russian and Ukrainian. While it is central to national identity, Russian is more widely used in education and public life due to historical government policies. Despite periods of foreign control and efforts to suppress the language and culture, Belarusians have maintained their distinctiveness.234
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BelarusEthnic groupsEthnic Belarusians make up about four-fifths of the country’s population. Russians, many of whom migrated to the Belorussian S.S.R. in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s, form the second largest ethnic group, accounting for roughly one-tenth of the population. Most of the remainder are Poles and Ukrainians,…
Read MoreEthnic Belarusians make up about four-fifths of the country’s population. Russians, many of whom migrated to the Belorussian S.S.R. in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s, form the second largest ethnic group, accounting for roughly one-tenth of the population. Most of the remainder are Poles and Ukrainians,…
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RussiaForeign policy…population of this region was Belarusian, Ukrainian, or Lithuanian; its commercial class was Jewish; and its upper classes and culture were Polish. Neither Russians nor Poles considered Belarusians, Ukrainians, or Lithuanians to be nations, entitled to decide their own fates: the question was whether Lithuania was to be Polish or…
Read More…population of this region was Belarusian, Ukrainian, or Lithuanian; its commercial class was Jewish; and its upper classes and culture were Polish. Neither Russians nor Poles considered Belarusians, Ukrainians, or Lithuanians to be nations, entitled to decide their own fates: the question was whether Lithuania was to be Polish or…
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KazakhstanSettlement patternsBelarusians—largely populate the northern plains, where they congregate in large villages that originally served as the centers of collective and state farms. These populated oases are separated by wheat fields or, in the more arid plains to the south, by semideserts and deserts where sheep…
Read MoreBelarusians—largely populate the northern plains, where they congregate in large villages that originally served as the centers of collective and state farms. These populated oases are separated by wheat fields or, in the more arid plains to the south, by semideserts and deserts where sheep…
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UzbekistanSettlement patternsBelarusians—held a large proportion of administrative positions. In the late 1980s and early ’90s, many Russians and smaller numbers of Jews emigrated from Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states, changing the ethnic balance and employment patterns in the region.
Read MoreBelarusians—held a large proportion of administrative positions. In the late 1980s and early ’90s, many Russians and smaller numbers of Jews emigrated from Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states, changing the ethnic balance and employment patterns in the region.
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