Center for New Ideas

The release of 227 political prisoners in Belarus last year may seem like progress, but it doesn’t indicate a genuine softening of the regime. According to human rights defenders, the machinery of repression remains firmly in place. So, when can we realistically talk about the beginning of the end for state-driven repression? In his latest article, Henadz Korshunau outlines a hypothetical roadmap.  1. The de-escalation of pre-election hysteria.  2. The cessation of extending repressive practices to new groups of the population, as well as ending the persecution of individuals for their participation in the events of 2020.  3. The halt of “purges” at state enterprises.  4. A large-scale amnesty for all political prisoners.  5. An official apology from the state to all victims of repression. This framework offers a glimpse into the potential trajectory of change, but the deeply entrenched authoritarian nature of the repressive system leaves much uncertainty, where any apparent progress could be fleeting and subject to abrupt reversal. What do you think would mark a turning point in Belarus? Let us know your perspective!

Another year comes to an end, bringing hope and faith in the power of ideas that change the world. Thank you to everyone who supported, inspired, and created with us in 2024! 🤍 💫 May 2025 inspire you to dream big, act creatively, and believe in your power to shape a better future. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Warm wishes, The Center for New Ideas Team

Mapping Belarusian Propaganda: Key Themes, Highlights, and Trends in 2024 The Center for New Ideas, supported by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, invites you to join an online presentation of its research hosted on the Press Club Belarus platform. Mapping Online Propaganda is a study that reveals how pro-government sources portray Western countries, the Belarusian opposition, the achievements of the authorities, and the war in Ukraine. The research includes a qualitative content analysis of nearly 2,600 posts across Telegram, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Presenters: 🌟 Alesia Rudnik, Director of the Center for New Ideas 🌟 Aliaksei Piatrenka, Independent Researcher The presentation will be opened by Christopher Först, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation’s representative for Belarus. When: Friday, December 6, 1:00 PM (Minsk) | 11:00 AM (CET, Warsaw) Languages: Russian/Belarusian, English (with simultaneous translation) 👉 Register here — https://lnkd.in/dHeQEc9R

That’s how legendary the Belarus Future Unconference 2024 in Warsaw was! ✨ Ryhor Astapenia: "Thank you so much for being part of our common Unconference. It’s your participation and energy that made the Belarus Future Unconference such a success. Let’s stay tuned!" Check out more photos from the event in the album on Facebook: https://lnkd.in/d4g2mAuY 📸 Photo credit: Tatsiana Kapitonava

Only a few days left until Belarus Future Unconference 2024 in Warsaw! 🔥 Registration is still open, so if you’re looking for a meaningful and engaging way to spend your Saturday afternoon, click the link and sign up for Belarus Future Unconference 2024. Together, we’ll discuss how to change ourselves to create change in Belarus! ✨ When: November 23, 2024, from 1:30 PM to 6:30 PM Where: Centrum Kreatywności Targowa (Warsaw, Targowa 56) 👉 Full program available at BFUNCONF.LIVE — https://bfunconf.live/ 👉 Register here — https://bit.ly/BFU2024 We look forward to seeing you there! 😊

We’re happy to announce the program and speakers for the Belarus Future Unconference 2024! 🔥 On the BFUNCONF.LIVE website, you’ll find the names of the panel discussion participants, along with the moderators of parallel discussions in the World Café format. Join us on November 23rd at the Belarus Future Unconference 2024 in Warsaw, where we’ll think together about how to change ourselves in order to change Belarus! 👉  Check out the program on our website —  https://bfunconf.live/ 👉  To register, fill out the form here — https://bit.ly/BFU2024 We look forward to seeing you!

Join us at the Belarus Future Unconference to discuss how we can change ourselves in order to change Belarus! 👉 Registration is already open — https://bit.ly/BFU2024

Belarus Future Unconference is back! 🎉 ⚡️ On November 23, the Center for New Ideas will host Belarus Future Unconference 2024 in Warsaw! ⚡️ "In order to start influencing the future of the country again, public actors need to rethink their role in today’s Belarus. It's essential to emerge from the crisis, identify new tracks of development, and review actions. We have to find optimism but let go of illusions." Join us at the Belarus Future Unconference to discuss how we can change ourselves in order to change Belarus. In addition to traditional panel discussions, we will host two parts of parallel sessions on transformational collaboration. When: 23/11/2024, from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM Where: Centrum Kreatywności Targowa (Warsaw, Targowa 56) ✨ The programme and speakers will be announced soon — stay tuned for updates. 👉 Registration is already open — https://bit.ly/BFU2024

The Young Reformers School in Stockholm was both fun and beneficial ✨ Over these few days, we saw a lot (big thanks to ForumCiv, Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS), Civil Rights Defenders, and Swedish International Liberal Center for the warm welcome), learned a great deal, and engaged in meaningful discussions. The presentation of policy briefs, which our participants developed and held in Stockholm, is ahead in Warsaw. Thank you all for your hard work! ❤️🔥 If you also want to take part in the Center for New Ideas’ educational programs, follow us on social media to stay in the loop.

🔥 We invite you to the online course "Politics 101: Analyzing Power and Its Transitions," which will take place from November 4 to December 17 at the Political Science Campus. 👉 Apply and learn more about the program on the website: https://lnkd.in/dqEZs3QP ⏰ Deadline: October 29!