This paper attempts to analyze Belarus' authoritarian features and deficits in terms of civil society and democratic unfolding of basic liberties, basing on the core premises of the theory of authoritarian regimes and the concept of civil society.
The 20th century was heavily marked by an immense ideological dispute between two opposing political and economic systems. The collapse of the Soviet Union brought an end to the Cold War and the profound confrontation between capitalism and communism throughout the globe. Nevertheless, the legacy of this wide system remains to some extent very influential in many of the nation-building processes of the post-Soviet countries. Despite the regional divergencies and the distinct sociopolitical developments, some continuities may derive from this common historical background. Belarus builds the focus of the study of this paper since it belongs to the nations, which have not successfully managed to bring forward a democratization process, failing to guarantee the core requirements for building a strong civil society. Moreover, the outcome of the 2020 presidential elections, which reinstated Lukaschenko for the 6th consecutive time in front of the Belarusian state, may corroborate the widespread thesis that characterizes Belarus as "Europe's last dictatorship". It is therefore attempted to explore which factors may have hindered the strengthening of civil society, bearing in mind that some of its current authoritarian features may have been inherited from the Soviet-era and remain deeply rooted in its political culture.
The premises of authoritarian regimes according to Maćków, as well as Gellner's and Diamond's understanding of civil society, constitute the theoretical background for understanding the impact of authoritarian practices in limiting political pluralism and hindering the building of a strong civil society. On one side, it should be analyzed which concrete factors throughout Belarus' history - after the Collapse of the Soviet Union - serve as an explanatory approach for the current political deficits in matter of civil society and political pluralism. On the other hand, it should be examined how the requirements for building and developing a strong civil society according to western- democratic standards have evolved during the last years in the country of study.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Theory of authoritarian regimes
- Core premises of authoritarianism according to Maćków
- Limited political pluralism as an impediment for strengthening civil society
- Empirical research: Soviet legacy in Belarus' building of a civil society
- The Soviet Union has a historical background
- Elite recruitment and omnipresent Executive
- Repression of the political opposition and non-free elections
- Limited freedom on the Net and pluralism of opinion
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The primary objective of this paper is to examine the lasting authoritarian features in Belarus and their impact on the development of a civil society. The paper aims to explore how the Soviet legacy has contributed to the current political landscape in Belarus, hindering the democratization process and the formation of a strong civil society.
- The legacy of the Soviet Union in Belarus
- The role of authoritarian regimes in limiting political pluralism
- The relationship between authoritarianism and the development of civil society
- The factors that have hindered the strengthening of civil society in Belarus
- The current political situation in Belarus and its impact on the future of civil society
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction provides a general overview of the topic, outlining the historical context and the current political situation in Belarus. It also introduces the key theoretical concepts that will be used throughout the paper, including the definition of authoritarian regimes and civil society.
Chapter 2 delves into the theory of authoritarian regimes, focusing on Maćków's framework. The chapter examines the key characteristics of authoritarianism, including the limited political pluralism and the lack of a strong civil society. It also discusses the impact of authoritarian regimes on political participation and the development of a democratic legal culture.
Chapter 3 analyzes the empirical evidence of the Soviet legacy in Belarus, highlighting the factors that have contributed to the country's authoritarian features. The chapter examines specific examples of how the Soviet past has influenced the current political system, including elite recruitment, repression of the political opposition, and limitations on freedom of expression.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on key topics such as authoritarianism, civil society, political pluralism, the Soviet legacy, Belarus, democratization, and the development of a democratic legal culture.
- Quote paper
- Daniela Forero Nuñez (Author), 2020, Lasting authoritarian features in Belarus. The Soviet Union’s legacy in the building of a civil society, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1036222
