Postcommunist Belarus

Postcommunist Belarus Book in PDF, ePub and Kindle version is available to download in english. Read online anytime anywhere directly from your device. Click on the download button below to get a free pdf file of Postcommunist Belarus book. This book definitely worth reading, it is an incredibly well-written.

Postcommunist Belarus

Author : Stephen White,Elena A. Korosteleva,John Löwenhardt
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
Page : 214 pages
File Size : 42,5 Mb
Release : 2005
Category : History
ISBN : 074253555X

Get Book

Postcommunist Belarus by Stephen White,Elena A. Korosteleva,John Löwenhardt Pdf

Belarus is one of the least studied European states to emerge from the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. In fact, few Western specialists paid much attention to its affairs during the Soviet era. Nevertheless, Belarus constitutes an important and sensitive border region between Russia and the western part of the continent. In Postcommunist Belarus, a stellar group of contributors examines the issues and the search for identity that Belarus has confronted in the period leading up to and following independence. The country is run in an authoritarian fashion by President Alexander Lukashenko and many observers, both inside and outside Belarus, would use the term "dictatorship" to describe his rule. Belarusian authorities prefer to emphasize the strong support of the people for the president and his cautious approach to economic reform. It seems unlikely that the country can hold out permanently against the wider pressures of democratization and economic reform that are transforming its neighbors. The country's situation offers political scientists many facets for comparison with established models. Belarus is grappling with challenges that are conceptual and psychological as much as they are political, economic, and social. Through new research, the contributors to Postcommunist Belarus offer an important, coherent, and comparative perspective on this little-known country.

Belarus

Author : David Marples
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 160 pages
File Size : 41,7 Mb
Release : 2013-10-11
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781134411979

Get Book

Belarus by David Marples Pdf

In any assessment and understanding of Belarus, the key questions to address include; why has Belarus apparently rejected independence under its first president Alyaksandr Lukashenka, and sought a union with Russia? Why has the government rejected democracy, infringed on the human rights of its citizens and fundamentally altered its constitution in favour of presidential authority? Has the country made any progress toward market reforms? How have Russia and the West responded to the actions of Belarus? And what is the future likely to hold for its ten million citizens? The author's conclusions are optimistic. Belarus, he believes, will survive into the twenty-first century, but as a Eurasian rather than a European state.

Democratic Changes and Authoritarian Reactions in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova

Author : Karen Dawisha,Bruce Parrott
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 412 pages
File Size : 48,5 Mb
Release : 1997-06-13
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 0521597323

Get Book

Democratic Changes and Authoritarian Reactions in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova by Karen Dawisha,Bruce Parrott Pdf

Edited by two of the world's leading analysts of postcommunist politics, this 1997 book brings together distinguished specialists on the former communist countries of Russia and the Western Newly Independent States. Chapters on Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine, plus three chapters on Russia's regional politics, its political parties, and the overall process of democratization, provide an in-depth analysis of the uneven pattern of political change in these four countries. Karen Dawisha and Bruce Parrott contribute theoretical and comparative chapters on postcommunist political development across the region. This book will provide students and scholars with detailed analysis by leading authorities, plus research data on political and economic developments in each country.

Rationality, Nationalism and Post-Communist Market Transformations

Author : Andrew Savchenko
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 166 pages
File Size : 49,9 Mb
Release : 2018-06-27
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781351789578

Get Book

Rationality, Nationalism and Post-Communist Market Transformations by Andrew Savchenko Pdf

This title was first published in 2000: A comparative analysis of market transformation in Poland, Belarus and the Baltic states with particular emphasis on cross-national variations in speed and direction of post-Communist economic reforms. While many studies tend to concentrate on the economic aspects of market reforms, analysis of the broader institutional framework is less common. This book, therefore, focuses on the influence of historical and cultural conditions on the formation of economic policy. The findings presented indicate that, far from being a purely rational process driven exclusively by considerations of economical efficiency, post-Communist market transformation is influenced by socio-political and cultural factors which are able to account for cross-national variations in speed and direction of reforms.

Orthodoxy Versus Post-communism?

Author : Mikhal Vavz͡honek,Nelly Bekus,Mirella Korzeniewska-Wiszniewska
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 332 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2016
Category : Christianity and politics
ISBN : 1443895385

Get Book

Orthodoxy Versus Post-communism? by Mikhal Vavz͡honek,Nelly Bekus,Mirella Korzeniewska-Wiszniewska Pdf

Post-communism has determined the social and political reality in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe for the last 25 years. A characteristic phenomenon during this time is a religious revival in the societies that were subject to intense atheization under the conditions of communist totalitarianism. This process can be observed in Ukraine, Belarus and Serbia. Undoubtedly, in all three cases, the Orthodox faith and the institutions that represent it have become an important element of the political culture. This book analyses the influence of Orthodoxy on political behaviours, values and judgments, looking particularly at such topics as the legacy of communism, shared attitudes towards the West, the European Union, democracy, and the ways of conceptualising post-communist Ukrainian, Belarussian and Serbian cultural and national identity.The research here explores such events and problems as the Euromaidan and the development of a civic society in Ukraine, the process of integration of Serbia into the EU, the perspectives of stability for the regime in Belarus, and the future of efforts for reintegration of post-Soviet space under the hegemony of Moscow.

Living the High Life in Minsk

Author : Margarita M. Balmaceda
Publisher : Central European University Press
Page : 236 pages
File Size : 46,5 Mb
Release : 2014-01-10
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9789633862223

Get Book

Living the High Life in Minsk by Margarita M. Balmaceda Pdf

Living the High Life in Minsk looks at the sources of stability and instability in post-Soviet authoritarian states through the case study of President Lukashenka’s firm hold on power in Belarus. In particular, it seeks to understand the role of energy relations, policies, and discourses in the maintenance of this power. The central empirical question Balmaceda seeks to answer is what has been the role of energy policies in the maintenance of Lukashenka’s power in Belarus? In particular, it analyzes the role of energy policies in the management of Lukashenka’s relationship with three constituencies crucial to his hold on power: Russian actors, the Belarusian nomenklatura, and the Belarusian electorate. In terms of foreign relations, the book focuses on the factors explaining Lukashenka’s ability to project Belarus’ power in its relationship with Russia in such a way as to compensate for its objective high level of dependency, assuring high levels of energy subsidies and rents continuing well beyond the initial worsening of the relationship in c. 2004. In terms of domestic relations, Balmaceda examines Lukashenka’s specific use of those energy rents in such a way as to assure the continuing support of both the Belarusian nomenklatura and the Belarusian electorate.

Stubborn Structures

Author : Bálint Magyar
Publisher : Central European University Press
Page : 713 pages
File Size : 40,7 Mb
Release : 2019-04-10
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9789633862155

Get Book

Stubborn Structures by Bálint Magyar Pdf

The editor of this book has brought together contributions designed to capture the essence of post-communist politics in East-Central Europe and Eurasia. Rather than on the surface structures of nominal democracies, the nineteen essays focus on the informal, often intentionally hidden, disguised and illicit understandings and arrangements that penetrate formal institutions. These phenomena often escape even the best-trained outside observers, familiar with the concepts of established democracies. Contributors to this book share the view that understanding post-communist politics is best served by a framework that builds from the ground up, proceeding from a fundamental social context. The book aims at facilitating a lexical convergence; in the absence of a robust vocabulary for describing and discussing these often highly complex informal phenomena, the authors wish to advance a new terminology of post-communist regimes. Instead of a finite dictionary, a kind of conceptual cornucopia is offered. The resulting variety reflects a larger harmony of purpose that can significantly expand the understanding the “real politics” of post-communist regimes. Countries analyzed from a variety of aspects, comparatively or as single case studies, include Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine.

Belarus under Lukashenka

Author : Matthew Frear
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 229 pages
File Size : 40,5 Mb
Release : 2018-09-03
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9781135008406

Get Book

Belarus under Lukashenka by Matthew Frear Pdf

This book explores the nature of the regime of Aliaksandr Lukashenka, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, and who is often characterized as "the last dictator in Europe". It discusses how Lukashenka came to power, providing a survey of politics in Belarus in early post-Soviet times, examines how power became personalized under his regime, and considers how he coerced opponents, whilst maintaining good popular support. The book discusses all aspects of politics, including presidential power, the ruling elites, elections, the opposition, and civil society. The author characterizes Lukashenka’s rule as "adaptive authoritarianism", and demonstrates how the regime’s avoidance of any ideology, even nationalism, permits great freedom of manoeuvre, enabling pragmatic adaptation to changing circumstances.

Democracy and Authoritarianism in the Postcommunist World

Author : Valerie Bunce,Michael McFaul,Kathryn Stoner
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 361 pages
File Size : 46,6 Mb
Release : 2010
Category : History
ISBN : 9780521115988

Get Book

Democracy and Authoritarianism in the Postcommunist World by Valerie Bunce,Michael McFaul,Kathryn Stoner Pdf

Examines in depth three waves of democratic change that took place in eleven different former Communist nations.

Defeating Authoritarian Leaders in Postcommunist Countries

Author : Valerie J. Bunce,Sharon L. Wolchik
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 387 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 2011-06-30
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781107006850

Get Book

Defeating Authoritarian Leaders in Postcommunist Countries by Valerie J. Bunce,Sharon L. Wolchik Pdf

From 1998 to 2005, six elections took place in postcommunist Europe that had the surprising outcome of empowering the opposition and defeating authoritarian incumbents or their designated successors. Valerie J. Bunce and Sharon L. Wolchik compare these unexpected electoral breakthroughs. They draw three conclusions. First, the opposition was victorious because of the hard and creative work of a transnational network composed of local opposition and civil society groups, members of the international democracy assistance community and graduates of successful electoral challenges to authoritarian rule in other countries. Second, the remarkable run of these upset elections reflected the ability of this network to diffuse an ensemble of innovative electoral strategies across state boundaries. Finally, elections can serve as a powerful mechanism for democratic change. This is especially the case when civil society is strong, the transfer of political power is through constitutional means, and opposition leaders win with small mandates.

Understanding Tahrir Square

Author : Stephen R. Grand
Publisher : Brookings Institution Press
Page : 274 pages
File Size : 48,7 Mb
Release : 2014-04-10
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780815725176

Get Book

Understanding Tahrir Square by Stephen R. Grand Pdf

Amid the current turmoil in the Middle East, Understanding Tahrir Square sounds a rare optimistic note. Surveying countries in other parts of the world during their transitions to democracy, author Stephen Grand argues that the long-term prospects in many parts of the Arab world are actually quite positive. If the current polarization and political violence in the region can be overcome, democracy will eventually take root. The key to this change will likely be ordinary citizens—foremost among them the young protestors of the Arab Spring who have filled the region's public spaces—most famously, Egypt's Tahrir Square. The book puts the Arab Spring in comparative perspective. It reveals how globalization and other changes are upending the expectations of citizens everywhere about the relationship between citizen and state. Separate chapters examine the experiences of countries in the former Eastern bloc, in the Muslim-majority states of Asia, in Latin America, and in Sub-Saharan Africa during the recent Third Wave of democratization. What these cases show is that, at the end of the day, democracy requires democrats. Many complex factors go into making a democracy successful, such as the caliber of its political leaders, the quality of its constitution, and the design of its political institutions. But unless there is clear public demand for new institutions to function as intended, political leaders are unlikely to abide by the limits those institutions impose. If American policymakers want to support the brave activists struggling to bring democracy to the Arab world, helping them cultivate an effective political constituency for democracy—in essence, growing the Tahrir Square base—should be the lodestar of U.S. assistance.

Struggle over Identity

Author : Nelly Bekus
Publisher : Central European University Press
Page : 312 pages
File Size : 46,5 Mb
Release : 2010-04-20
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9786155211843

Get Book

Struggle over Identity by Nelly Bekus Pdf

Rejecting the cliché about "weak identity and underdeveloped nationalism," Bekus argues for the co-existence of two parallel concepts of Belarusianness—the official and the alternative one—which mirrors the current state of the Belarusian people more accurately and allows for a different interpretation of the interconnection between the democratization and nationalization of Belarusian society.The book describes how the ethno-symbolic nation of the Belarusian nationalists, based on the cultural capital of the Golden Age of the Belarusian past (17th century) competes with the "nation" institutionalized and reified by the numerous civic rituals and social practices under the auspices of the actual Belarusian state.Comparing the two concepts not only provides understanding of the logic that dominates Belarusian society's self-description models, but also enables us to evaluate the chances of alternative Belarusianness to win this unequal struggle over identity.

Historical Dictionary of Belarus

Author : Grigory V. Ioffe,Vitali Silitski
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
Page : 477 pages
File Size : 55,8 Mb
Release : 2018-08-15
Category : History
ISBN : 9781538117064

Get Book

Historical Dictionary of Belarus by Grigory V. Ioffe,Vitali Silitski Pdf

Belarus is one of fifteen successor states of the former Soviet Union. It’s the only post-Soviet state that is in full of control of its territory and has no territorial conflicts with its neighbors. It’s squeezed between Russia and the European Union. Belarus had never been an independent nation prior to the Soviet Union’s disintegration and its identity is still evolving. This third edition of Historical Dictionary of Belarus contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 500 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Belarus.

Postcommunism

Author : Michael Mandelbaum
Publisher : Council on Foreign Relations
Page : 220 pages
File Size : 53,8 Mb
Release : 1996
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 0876091869

Get Book

Postcommunism by Michael Mandelbaum Pdf

This book offers distinctive perspectives, by four leading students of politics, on the single most important social, political, and economic development of the 1990s: post-communist Eurasia.

Political Participation and Democratic Capability in Authoritarian States

Author : Lien Pham,Ance Kaleja
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 197 pages
File Size : 47,9 Mb
Release : 2021-02-22
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781000348330

Get Book

Political Participation and Democratic Capability in Authoritarian States by Lien Pham,Ance Kaleja Pdf

This book provides an innovative theoretical and empirical exploration of the political participation and democratic capability of people living in authoritarian states. Merging perspectives from sociology and political science, the book demonstrates that despite autocratic restrictions on opposition, there is often still leeway for people to express themselves as political agents and to develop democratic capability. The first two chapters problematise political participation and develop an interdisciplinary three-domain framework that allows for critical engagement with and appreciation of the contexts and varied ways in which participatory activities occur. This framework is applied to analyse six country case studies: Singapore, Jordan, Belarus, Cuba, Nigeria, and Vietnam. Drawing on a range of data sources and different analytical entry points, the book investigates the substantive opportunities people have in exercising political agency and the implications for democratic capability. The book concludes by summarising the emergent themes and examining the potential of applying this method of inquiry in other political contexts. Encompassing both governmental and societal practices, the book offers insights into state-society relations and their role in constructing political values and goals for participation, which people negotiate and mediate to inform their choices, modes, and forms of civic engagement. These insights present a broad approach towards the study of participation, with relevance for understanding political participation in various societies under non-democratic and democratic rule alike. This book will be useful for researchers and students interested in political dynamics and intersections with economic, cultural, and social aspects of development. It will also be beneficial for practitioners interested in participatory actions and social change.