Following the mass protests of 2020, the Belarusian authorities significantly intensified their control over the education system, turning it into a tool of ideological influence and youth militarization. The study “Children of the dictatorship: Indoctrination and Militarization of Belarusian Youth after 2020” examines how Lukashenka’s regime is reshaping educational institutions — from kindergartens to universities — in order to raise a generation loyal to the state and prepared to defend the existing political order.

The research explores new forms of “military-patriotic education,” the rewriting of historical narratives, increased surveillance of teachers and students, and efforts to limit Western influence on Belarusian youth. Particular attention is paid to the militarization of education, the spread of propaganda in schools, and the cultivation of political apathy through fear and repression.

The report argues that education in Belarus is increasingly becoming a mechanism of political socialization and state control. At the same time, the effectiveness of these policies remains uncertain, as a profound disconnect persists between official propaganda and the actual attitudes of young Belarusians.

This research was prepared within the framework of the Belarus Young Research Award 2025. This project is funded by the European Union.

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Children of the Dictatorship: Indoctrination and Militarization of Belarusian Youth after 2020 (PDF)

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