Peculiarities of the "old" and "new" Belarusian diasporas (BEROC Working Paper Series, WP No. 36)

Over the past five years, the Belarusian diaspora has undergone profound and unprecedented transformations. The mass protests of 2020, followed by harsh political repression and a worsening domestic climate, triggered a major wave of emigration. This exodus has changed not only the size of the diaspora but also its social and institutional fabric. Alongside hundreds of thousands of individuals, entire sectors — including independent media, civil society organizations, and parts of the private business community — have relocated abroad. Against this backdrop, a clear division is emerging within the diaspora, which can now be broadly understood as consisting of at least two large groups: the “old” and the “new” diaspora. The boundary between them is marked by the year 2020. These groups differ significantly in terms of migration experience, motivations for leaving, political views, modes of activism, forms of solidarity, and their relationships both with Belarus and with each other. This report is based on a mixed-methods study that combines a quantitative CAWI survey with 30 semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted among representatives of both waves of migration. This approach provides not only a demographic and attitudinal snapshot of the diaspora, but also deeper insight into how people perceive their situation, what internal tensions exist, how new forms of collectivity are emerging, and what challenges lie ahead. The study is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and diaspora initiatives seeking greater cohesion and a clearer understanding of the complex, layered nature of the Belarusian community abroad.