While many scholars emphasise the structural reasons of Belarusian protests, this paper focuses on the individual mechanisms that were triggered in 2020 ultimately produces massive protest mobilisation. Drawing on Coleman's (1990) macro-micro-macro model, it argues that understanding of the Belarusian protests requires examination of the individual level and to the mechanisms that, once triggered, generated months of massive peaceful street protest. In addition, by combining by Petersen (2001) and others threshold concept of engaging into protest movement with Kurans’ (1995) idea of disclosure of private preferences, the paper outlines a sequence of mechanisms that were triggered in 2020 and culminated in large-scale collective action in the authoritarian country. 

By linking these theoretical frameworks and developing a mechanism sequence specific to Belarusian protesters, the study addresses not only what initially triggered protesters and led them out into the streets, but also what sustained them in protest movement for so long. The analysis demonstrates how small acts can lead to larger movements of resistance. By outlining the examples of mechanisms activated 2020 protests, the paper explains their effects on the individual level in fostering participation in peaceful street protests. 

The study is based on 25 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Belarusian protesters conducted between 2021 and 2025. This empirical evidence sheds light on how ordinary Belarusian men and women, despite enormous risks, took to the streets of the country and collectively created the largest resistant movement to the Belarusian authoritarian regime.