The Protests in Belarus: Context, Causes and Lessons.

This article offers an initial analyses the mass protests that began in Belarus following the presidential elections of August 2020. Written 'in the heat of events' it has the character of preliminary observations. The authors begin with the background and context of events and the outcomes of the economic and social development of the Republic of Belarus during the 25 years of rule by Lukashenko. A preliminary analysis of the social and class make-up both of the protesters and of those who at the time of writing remained a 'silent majority' is situated in the context of the contradictions within the Belarusian 'power elite'. We attempt to distinguish the main factors behind the developments in Belarus and point to initial lessons of these events for social and humanitarian-oriented networks and organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]