Belarus: A Perpetual BorderlandBelarus is known as the last dictatorship of Europe , yet its president enjoys public support. Its economy remains largely Soviet, yet exhibits high growth rates. Belarus styles itself as a European country yet clings to Russia as the only ally. The book explains these paradoxes by delving into history of Belarusian national institutions, including civil society, and the state.The book starts with an analysis of Belarusian national development from the time of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to the short-lived Belarusian People s Republic of 1918. The discussion turns to the crucial interwar period, when all national institutions of modern Belarus had taken shape. Belarus s surprising ability to cope with post-Soviet economic and geopolitical changes is discussed in the final chapter. |
Contents
Chapter One The Making of a Borderland | 15 |
Belarus | 25 |
Belarus as defined | 34 |
the Belarusian National State | 69 |
Belarus | 135 |
Modern Belarus | 145 |
Soviet economy | 159 |
populist Belarus under Alyaksandar | 171 |
Conclusion Whither Belarus? | 225 |
| 231 | |
| 237 | |
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According administration allowed army authorities Baltic become Belarus Belarus’s Belarusian national Belarusian nationalists Bolsheviks borderland central century civil communities considerably constitutional continued course created culture currency democratic Duchy of Lithuania economic elections electoral elites emergence enterprises established ethnic Europe European existing export fact followed forces foreign former German Grand Duchy idea important included increased independence industrial inflation institutions lands language latter leaders leadership less limited Lukashenka major military Minsk movement nationalist natural occupation official opposition organizations peasants percent Perhaps period Poland Poles Polish political population position post-Soviet presented president produced promotion provinces rates reforms regime region remained republics result Russian schools share social society Soviet Union started structures symbols territory throughout tion trade units urban Western World