taz.de
Belarus After 2020: Petz's Book Chronicles a Nation's Transformation
Ingo Petz's new book, "Rasender Stillstand," analyzes Belarus's political evolution since the 2020 protests, highlighting the challenges of reporting on the increasingly isolated nation and the importance of understanding its regional context in relation to the war in Ukraine. The book is published by edition.fotoTAPETA, who also collaborates on the "Krieg und Frieden" project, featuring diaries from journalists across the post-Soviet space, available at taz.de/kriegundfrieden.
- How have restricted press freedom and political tensions in Belarus impacted Petz's research and the broader understanding of the country?
- Petz's book, published by edition.fotoTAPETA, a publisher focusing on Eastern Europe, addresses common misconceptions about Belarus. The book's release coincides with a collaborative project, "Krieg und Frieden," a collection of diaries by journalists from across the post-Soviet space documenting the war in Ukraine and its regional impacts, supported by the taz Panter Stiftung and accessible at taz.de/kriegundfrieden. This highlights the broader context of Belarusian events within the region.
- What key changes in Belarus have occurred since the 2020 protests, and what are their immediate consequences for the country and the region?
- Ingo Petz, a Belarus expert, released a book in March 2024 marking the 5th anniversary of the 2020 Belarusian protests. His work examines the country's evolution and current state, highlighting significant changes since the widespread demonstrations against Lukashenko's autocratic rule. Petz, barred from Belarus since 2020, details the challenges of researching the increasingly isolated nation.
- What are the long-term implications of Belarus's increasing isolation, and what role can initiatives like Petz's book and the "Krieg und Frieden" project play in shaping future understanding and potential change?
- Petz's experiences, detailed in the podcast and book, underscore the increasing difficulty in covering Belarus due to restricted press freedom. The book's publication and the ongoing "Krieg und Frieden" project, reflect a conscious effort to increase awareness and understanding of Belarus and its geopolitical context, countering the information vacuum that Petz describes having existed even in the 1990s.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing heavily favors the book and the publisher. The headline and introduction emphasize Petz's expertise and the book's importance, potentially overshadowing other relevant information. The description is structured to promote the book and the publisher's efforts to address the Belarus situation. This could bias the audience towards viewing Petz's analysis as the primary, or even sole, authoritative source on the topic.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral, descriptive, and informative. Words like "autocracy" and "revolution" are used, which suggest a critical stance but are appropriate given the context of Belarusian politics. No loaded terms or clear examples of biased language are readily apparent.
Bias by Omission
The description focuses heavily on Ingo Petz's book and the publisher's perspective, potentially omitting other perspectives on the Belarusian situation. There is little mention of the Belarusian people's voices beyond a reference to the 2020 protests. The description also doesn't address potential counter-narratives or criticisms of Petz's work. This omission might limit the audience's ability to form a complete understanding of the situation.
False Dichotomy
The description doesn't present a false dichotomy, but it implicitly frames the situation as one where either Petz's perspective is accepted or there is a lack of understanding. It doesn't explore the complexity of the situation as it might be perceived by various Belarusian actors.
Sustainable Development Goals
The podcast discusses the political repression in Belarus since the 2020 protests, highlighting the restricted press freedom and political tensions. This directly impacts the ability of citizens to participate in democratic processes and enjoy justice, thus negatively affecting SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The journalist's inability to enter Belarus exemplifies the suppression of free speech and information access.