Political and Activist Poetry

This contribution will first discuss the tenuous distinction between political and activist poetry. Then it will provide some examples of contemporary political poetry, including on such themes as social justice, minority rights, and environmentalism, pointing out the various strategies that scholars have identified as instrumental for poetry’s ability to convey messages, foster awareness, and, possibly, promote change among various communities. The third section will be devoted to (trans-)national struggles in online poetry. Finally, focusing on contemporary Belarusian and Ukrainian activist poetry, the last part will reflect on the role of social media in the dissemination and impact of a specific kind of political poetry, defined as community-building through a national lens, in times of acute social and political crisis.