The Belarusian Language in the Communist Movement in Western Belarus 1921-1939

Abstract

This article aims to study the situation of the Belarusian language as the main ethno-determining factor in the development of the Belarusian people as part of interwar Poland and the attitude towards it from the Communist Party of Poland (СPP) and its constituent, the Communist Party of Western Belarus (СPWB). Based on a wide range of historical sources, including archival documents, the author illustrates the ambiguity of the language policy of Poland as part of its national policy, and reveals the positive role of the Belarusian language in organizing and strengthening the communist movement in Western Belarus. The work shows the ambiguity of the attitude towards the Belarusian culture and language on the part of the Communist Party of Poland, which officially advocated the national and cultural interests of the Belarusian population, and how it used the Belarusian language and personnel to strengthen their positions. At the same time, it demonstrated national chauvinism and selfishness in relation to Belarusian national-political priorities, fearing the strengthening of the Belarusian factor in political life and the loss of its influence in the region. As a result, the leadership of the Communist Party of Poland secretly resorted to restricting the presence of the Belarusian language in the communist movement of Western Belarus, hindering the organization of underground Belarusian printing, and restricting the creation and distribution of Belarusian communist literature, helping to weaken the struggle for the interests of the Belarusian people in Poland.