Cult of the Ethnos and Deconstruction of the Nation (Two Breakthroughs of Akudovich)

Article

Abstract

[In Belarusian]

The paper is the analysis of the well-known Belarusian philosopher Valiantsin Akudovich’s ideas, mainly on the ground of his book The Code of the Absence. On the Foundations of Belarusian Mentality. The author of the paper argues that Akudovich paradoxically represents at once «mystical nationalism» (thereby approaching the non-militant ultranationalism) and deconstructionist reconsideration of the traditional nationalist dogmas. The author critically evaluates both features of Akudovich’s discourse, highlighting that his nationalism finds itself in dangerous affinity with tribalism, while his reinterpretation of Belarusian history proves to be internally inconsistent and unable to survive empirical verification.