Around 350 experts from the social sciences and humanities are expected to attend the 12th International Congress for Belarusian Studies (ICBS) from 25 to 27 September 2025 at Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin (HU) to discuss Belarusian history, politics, society and culture in a European and international context. The congress has been held in various European cities since 2011 and is the only place in the world where such a large group of Belarusian scholars and leading public figures come together to freely and independently discuss issues related to Belarus.
The congress consists of 13 sections covering the most important areas of social sciences and humanities, including history, international relations, political science, sociology, linguistics, literature. The working languages of the congress are Belarusian, Ukrainian, English, Lithuanian, Polish, German and Russian. Simultaneous interpreting will only be provided for the opening event and the plenary session on the first day.
The interested public is also invited
In addition to media representatives, interested members of the public are also invited to the more than 70 events and scientific panels, in particular to the opening on 25 September at 10 a.m., including with Prof. Dr Susanne Frank from the Institute for Slavic and Hungarian Studies at HU, and to the two subsequent discussion rounds on the following topics: "Belarus on the European map. How does the EU see it now, and what can we expect in the near future?" (10:30 to 11:50) and "Belarusian Academic Community 2025: Status, Challenges and Opportunities" (12:10 to 13:30).
At a glance
When: Thursday, 25 September 2025, to Saturday, 27 September 2025
Where: Opening event on 25 September and subsequent discussion rounds: Lecture theatre 10, Invalidenstra?e 42 (Faculty of Life Sciences), 10115 Berlin (building is located behind the Museum für Naturkunde, access via the courtyard)
Programme and registration: The full programme can be found on the website of the 12th International Congress on Belarusian Studies. Media representatives and guests are requested to register on the website under this link.
HU is academic partner of the organisers from Belarus and Lithuania
The congress is organised by the research organisations Palitychnaja Sfera in Minsk (Belarus) and Lietuvos Did?iosios Kunigaik?tyst?s institutas in Kaunas (Lithuania). The academic partner and local organiser is Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin; other partner universities include Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas (Lithuania) and Vilnius University (Lithuania). At the HU, research and teaching on Belarus takes place at various faculties: at the Department of Comparative Democracy Research and Political Systems of Eastern Europe (Institute of Social Sciences), at the Institute of Slavic and Hungarian Studies and at the Chair for the History of Eastern Europe.
Further Information
- Website of the 12th International Congress for Belarus Studies
- Website of the Institute of Political Science Palitychnaja Sfera (Minsk, Belarus)
- Website of the research organisation Lietuvos Did?iosios Kunigaik?tyst?s institutas (LDKI)
Contact
Prof. Dr Susanne Frank
Department of East Slavic Literatures and Cultures at the Institute of Slavic and Hungarian Studies
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