Politics of Exile: Women's Strategies of Action and Care in the Post-2020 Diaspora

In the aftermath of the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus and the ensuing political crisis, many women were forced into exile. This article explores how Belarusian women continue their engagement in political, socio-cultural, and socio-economic initiatives abroad, often beyond the traditional frameworks of political participation. Drawing on feminist methodology, in-depth interviews, and ethnographic observation conducted in 2022, the study describes the major forms of women's activism in exile. These include community support both to Belarusians and Ukrainians, cultural preservation, assistance to political prisoners and migrants, and educational and humanitarian initiatives. The article argues that women's work in exile not only sustains diasporic life but also constitutes a meaningful form of resistance that challenges dominant notions of visibility, leadership, and political agency in post-authoritarian contexts.