POLISH PEOPLE IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS THROUGH ETHNOGEOGRAPHY
ETNOCOĞRAFYA PENCERESİNDEN BELARUS CUMHURİYETİNDEKİ POLONYALILAR

Author : Abdullah SOYKAN -- Emin ATASOY - Elena GALAY - Beknur IZENBAYEV
Number of pages : 30-48

Abstract

In this document, ethnicity of the Republic of Belarus and primal demographic characteristics are examined thoroughly. In addition, changes of ethnic distribution in time is discussed. Because the theme of this study is Polish people who live in Belarus, changes in quality and quantity of Polish people starting from the first and middle age until XXI. century. In that respect, this study presents remarkable facts to historians, geographers, sociologists ,ethnographers and demographers since it is interdisciplinary. Determination of ethnical identities are complex and difficult. Ethnical characterisation and perception are rather political, relative or unstable. That's why there are different points of view considering Polish minorty. In today's Republic of Belarus, Polish minority is the most crowded community after Russians. Yet it's crystal clear that Polish minority is decreasing through time, especially in the last century. For example, in 1989 there were 417.700 Polish people who live in Belarus;however, in 2009 their population was only 294,500. It is estimated that by 2050, their population will be under 200. 000. In this study the reasons of decrase of population and the place of Polish people in Belarus are examined thoroughly.

Keywords

Belarus, Poland, ethnicity, Polish people

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