Alesia Rudnik
Director of the independent Belarusian think tank Center for new ideas.
PhD Candidate in political science at Karlstad University.
Leading a think tank, writing a PhD thesis, conducting research on technology and social movements in autocracies
about me
Alesia Rudnik is a PhD candidate in political science (Karlstad University, Sweden) and a director of an independent Belarusian think tank in exile Center for New Ideas.
My academic research focuses on studying human-technology relations in the context of political protests in autocracies.
My research interests and practice also include role of media in forming public opinion; co-option of digital platforms by the autocrats; female representation in the anti-autocratic social movements.
Previously, I led the organization of the Belarusian diaspora in Sweden. I am also a recipient of the Swedish award “European of the Year 2022”.
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My publications and research
The female face of Belarusian resistance
The public role of women in the Belarusian resistance has diminished along with the rise of totalitarianism. But they remain vital drivers for change...
The Belarusian diaspora and its role
The Belarusian diaspora turned into a serious force of political influence across Europe in just a matter of months...
Belarus – where society is deprived of power but not agency
“I was terrified and scared but more than ever before I felt that I am a Belarusian and I could not stay home...
Transformation des politischen Systems / Das Regime und soziale Medien
Das politische System, das derzeit in Belarus aufgebaut wird, ist durch eine vollkommene Absage...
The media image of Belarus abroad
Belarus generated considerable media attention in 2020, when active protests were sweeping the country. However...
Exiled, but loyal to people: The Belarusian media struggle
The Belarusian political system has rarely been open to freedom of speech and press. Media outlets and the printed press...
Belarusian Change Tracker
Political communication analysis of the Belarusian online platforms, Telegram and TikTok
Legitimierung des Regimes in Belarus
Telegram als Instrument zum Weißwaschen und zur Legitimierung des Regimes in Belarus
The media image of Belarus abroad
Belarus generated considerable media attention in 2020, when active protests were sweeping the country. However...
Exiled, but loyal to people: The Belarusian media struggle
The Belarusian political system has rarely been open to freedom of speech and press. Media outlets and the printed press...
Belarusian Change Tracker, 7th Edition
Political communication analysis of the Belarusian online platforms, Telegram and TikTok
Legitimierung des Regimes in Belarus
Telegram als Instrument zum Weißwaschen und zur Legitimierung des Regimes in Belarus
Machinery of dissent: Exploring the techno-social practices of modern protests
Focusing on the example of the Belarusian protests of 2020, this article examines the human and non-human labour behind the production of protest mobilisation content, protest coordination, and protest reporting. Based on semi-structured interviews with 18 respondents, the paper is the first to examine the practices and routines of Telegram channel editors and moderators, activists, politicians, and marketing specialists.
Co-option of Technology: Digital Repression and Legitimation Strategies of the Belarusian Regime. Communist and Post-Communist Studies
In the summer of 2020, the Belarusian regime experienced an unprecedented challenge to its power. Large-scale demonstrations erupted across the whole country as a response to a rigged election and police violence against protest participants...
TikTok and Telegram as platforms for political mobilization in Belarus and Russia
This article applies previous research within social movements and democratization
studies about the use of Facebook and Twitter to instigate and
galvanize protests in autocratic countries in order to explore
how protest mobilization on newly politicized platforms such
as Telegram and TikTok is manifested.
Video materials
conference participation
awards
additional education and training
/ Swedish Institute Leader Lab 2024
April - November 2024
/ SMM for Belarus, IPM (Belarus)
May-July 2020
/ Young Leadership Program at Georgian Institute for Strategic Studies
March 2019
/ Certificate of completion of the distance course "Public Policy and Administration" at SYMPA, Minsk
September 2016
/ Completed “Youth in Action” Training Course in Project management, Germany
November 2015
/ Completed a course, “Business and Management,” by EHU MBA
November 2012 – March 2013
get in touch
You can contact me here with requests regarding written analysis on Belarusian political, media and societal affairs, propose academic collaboration or invite me as a speaker to your event.
