Constructing the neighbor: Ukraine’s location in Belarusian Internal Relations scholarship

Abstract

This article examines how Belarusian International Relations (IR) scholarship portrays Ukraine. Drawing on constructivist and sociological approaches, it argues that local academic discourse can shed light on the interplay between domestic political constraints, regional allegiances, and knowledge production. The analysis focuses on three peer-reviewed IR journals, examining articles that refer or are primarily devoted to Ukraine. While Ukraine ranks second to Russia in terms of general mentions, sustained scholarly engagement remains limited. Belarusian scholars tend to avoid sensitive topics such as the annexation of Crimea and the armed conflict in Donbas, often employing neutral language that neither criticizes Russia nor explicitly supports its position. Reference analysis reveals a strong reliance on Russian sources, though this does not necessarily reflect a pro-Russian narrative. Taken together, these patterns demonstrate how a state’s political environment shapes the scope and tone of scholarly engagement with regional developments.