Key findings Belarusians are a formed and distinct nation. Most urban residents(85%) feel they are part of the national community and take pride in belonging to it. People with different views share a common image of“their people”(“peaceful,” “hardworking”), a shared culture(Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas), and common symbols(the European bison, draniki). Although most(63%) do not use the Belarusian language regularly, it is considered to be a native language and is used occasionally. Within a shared identity, two national projects continue to compete: the Soviet and the National-Romantic. These projects place different emphasis on the country’s history, the role of language, and the choice of symbols. The authorities tend to support the former, while civil society organizations promote the latter. Depending on the level of affinity for these projects, Belarusians can be divided into four main segments.  The identity of the Soviet, the oldest segment, is tied to Belarus’s continuity with the BSSR, loyalty to official state symbols, and an emotional attachment to the state. At the same time, the Soviet value Belarusianness, unlike the small share of the Russified that identifies as Russian.  The Conscious, a highly educated segment, are oriented toward pre-Soviet history and support the Belarusian language. They feel closer to the white-red-white flag and Pahonia as a national emblem.  The Emerging, the youngest segment, are in many ways close to the Conscious but do not want to abandon the Soviet legacy.  The Indifferent are disengaged from both projects, reducing their sense of commonality with other Belarusians to politically neutral markers such as citizenship or place of birth. Differences in views are also reflected in perceptions of Belarusians’ place among other nations. At the regional level, Belarusian identity appears“borderland”: the Soviet gravitate toward a Russian imperial community, while the Conscious lean toward a European one. Thus, 60% of the Soviet see Belarusians as belonging to a common space with Russians, compared to only 10% of the Conscious. Meanwhile, 78% of the Conscious consider Belarusians European, compared to 26% of the Soviets. At the same time, most Belarusians view themselves as a European nation(67%) due to the country’s location and shared cultural and historical ties with Europe. However, for Belarusians, the core of Europeanness still lies far to the West: in Germany and France. These countries are seen(by roughly 90%) as embodying Europeanness because of their democracy, tolerance, and EU membership. Belarusians turn out to be somewhat peripheral due to the country’s political isolation. The exception is the Conscious, who see Belarusians as no less European than the nations of the core. On the global scale, the“borderland” nature of Belarusians disappears. They place themselves within an East Slavic cluster of nations with a Western, European culture and Christian heritage— alongside Ukrainians, Russians, Poles, and Lithuanians. The main supranational community for Belarusians is the Slavs. 78% of Belarusians identify with this group, including 90% of the Soviet and 84% of the Conscious. Belarusian identity relies on horizontal communication networks. These form the foundation of solidarity and commonality: 91% can count on basic assistance from people they know. The typical Belarusian is disconnected from representatives of both the state and civil society. While 62% know people in the former, these ties are weak, and only 41% have connections to the latter. Contrary to expectations, loyalty to the authorities does not translate into institutional privileges: the Soviet have fewer connections within the state apparatus than the Conscious. The Conscious are the most mobile and resourceful segment. They are more likely to have access to a range of resources, from emigration assistance to neighborly support. Beyond ties with“ordinary people,” they are also more likely to have representatives of the authorities and people abroad within their networks. Contact with foreigners contributes to their openness and pro-European views. Thus, Belarusians from different segments are united by strong grassroots ties and mutual support, as well as by a conviction of belonging to Western civilization on a global scale. Key Findings 4