Belarus: A Developing Country In Europe?

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe with a population of 9.1 million. It is bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. The country has a semi-presidential republican system of governance, with a bicameral parliament comprising the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic. However, it has been described as Europe's last dictatorship due to its highly centralized and authoritarian government, with President Alexander Lukashenko being labelled Europe's last dictator.

During the Cold War, Belarus was part of the Soviet Union and was considered a Second World country. The term Second World referred to countries under the influence of the Soviet Union, with planned economies and one-party states. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the term Second World fell out of use, and Belarus gained independence in 1991.

Today, Belarus is considered a developing country with a very high human development index ranking. It has a mixed economic system, with state ownership in large sections of the economy, and trade relations with over 180 countries. However, it faces international sanctions due to its role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and human rights violations.

Belarus's economy

Belarus is not a third-world country. The term “third world” was originally used during the Cold War to refer to countries that were non-aligned with either NATO or the Warsaw Pact. Today, the term is often used to refer to developing countries, particularly those with substandard conditions in need of development.

Belarus has an upper-middle-income mixed economy, ranking 74th in the world by GDP. The country has a well-developed manufacturing industry, services sector, and agriculture. From 2010 to 2020, Belarus's GDP expanded by 18.3% in comparable prices, with productivity growing by 28.2% over the same period.

In 2018, Belarus ranked 53rd out of 189 countries on the United Nations Human Development Index, placing it in the "very high development" group. The country has an efficient healthcare system, with a very low infant mortality rate of 2.9, compared to 6.6 in Russia and 3.7 in the United Kingdom. It also has a high rate of doctors per capita, at 40.7 per 10,000 inhabitants, and a literacy rate of 99%.

The major sectors of the Belarusian economy include manufacturing, services, and agriculture. Manufacturing was a pillar of the economy during the Soviet era, with a focus on products such as tractors, heavy trucks, oil processing, metal-cutting lathes, synthetic fibres, TV sets, semiconductors, and microchips. Belarus was known as "the Soviet assembly shop" due to its role in producing goods from raw materials imported from the Soviet Union.

The service sector is also significant, with nearly 80% of foreign direct investment geared towards it between 2002 and 2007. The agricultural sector specializes in crops such as potatoes, flax, hemp, sugar beets, rye, oats, and wheat, as well as livestock such as dairy and beef cattle, pigs, and chickens.

Belarus has a history of economic challenges, particularly following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The period between 1996 and 2000 was marked by financial distress, including a sharp increase in prices, devaluation of the national currency, and a decline in trade with other CIS countries. However, the economy demonstrated steady and dynamic growth between 2001 and 2005, with GDP growing at an average rate of 7.4% and peaking at 9.2% in 2005.

In recent years, Belarus has faced economic sanctions from the EU and the US due to its facilitation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Despite these challenges, the Belarusian GDP is projected to grow by 4% in 2024, followed by 2.2% in 2025 and 1.3% in 2026.

Belarus's political system

Belarus is a presidential republic with a bicameral parliament, the National Assembly. The President of Belarus is the head of state and is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The President appoints the Prime Minister, who is the head of government but is subordinate to the President. The President also has the power to enact decrees that carry the same weight as laws.

The National Assembly consists of two chambers: the Council of the Republic and the House of Representatives. Members of the Council of the Republic serve four-year terms and are mostly elected by regional councils, with a small number appointed by the President. Members of the House of Representatives are popularly elected to serve four-year terms.

The Constitution of Belarus, which was first adopted in 1994 and has since been amended, establishes the country as a "democratic, social state" that guarantees a broad range of rights and freedoms. It provides for the separation of powers into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with each branch being independent and interacting based on checks and balances.

The Belarusian political landscape includes several registered political parties, but political success often depends more on loyalty to the President than on party affiliation. The Communist Party of Belarus, the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus, and the Agrarian Party are among the parties supportive of the current President, Alexander Lukashenko. Opposition parties, such as the Party of Communists of Belarus, the Party of the Belarusian Popular Front, and the United Civic Party, have had limited electoral success.

Lukashenko has been characterised as authoritarian and has been referred to as "Europe's last dictator". International monitors have questioned the fairness of elections, and critics have pointed to the repression of regime opponents and a lack of media freedom. Human Rights Watch has also criticised the Belarusian government for human rights violations and actions against NGOs, independent journalists, national minorities, and opposition politicians.

Belarus's human rights record

Belarus is an authoritarian state with a poor human rights record. The country is ruled by President Alexander Lukashenko, who has described himself as having an "authoritarian ruling style". Western countries have described Belarus under Lukashenko as "Europe's last dictatorship".

The Belarusian government has been criticised for its persecution of non-governmental organisations, independent journalists, national minorities, and opposition politicians. During the 2020 presidential election and subsequent protests, the number of political prisoners recognised by the Viasna Human Rights Centre rose to 1,062 as of February 2022. Several people died due to the use of unlawful force by law enforcement, including firearms. The Belarusian authorities did not investigate these violations and instead harassed those who challenged their version of events.

The Belarusian government has also been accused of targeting and intimidating civil society activists and independent media. In 2021, two Belsat TV journalists, Katsyaryna Andreeva and Darya Chultsova, were imprisoned for two years for streaming during anti-Lukashenko protests in Minsk.

Belarus is the only European country that continues to use capital punishment. The country also has a high conviction rate, with 99.7% of criminal cases in 2020 resulting in conviction.

The country has been criticised for its treatment of political prisoners, including those from the youth wing of the Belarusian Popular Front, a pro-democracy party. In 2010, Belarusian security forces attacked demonstrators, beating and injuring many activists with batons and arresting more than 600 people.

The Belarusian government has also been accused of forced disappearances, with opposition leaders Yury Zacharanka and Viktar Hanchar disappearing in 1999, along with Hanchar's business associate Anatol Krasouski. The official investigation announced that the case could not be solved, despite constant surveillance by the State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus (KGB).

The European Union and the United States have imposed sanctions on Belarusian officials due to their involvement in internal repression and human rights violations.

In terms of freedom of expression, assembly, and association, Belarus has been criticised for its severe restrictions. Religious minorities have faced discrimination, and the justice system has been abused to suppress dissent. Torture and other ill-treatment are endemic, and refugees and migrants have suffered abuses at the hands of the authorities.

The Belarusian government has also been accused of luring refugees and migrants to the country with false promises of easy passage into the EU, only to force them across EU borders violently.

Overall, Belarus's human rights record has been widely criticised by major organisations and governments, and the country has been described as having one of the most repressive regimes in the world.

Belarus's foreign relations

Belarus has diplomatic relations with 183 countries and is represented on the international stage by 74 foreign missions. It has sought to develop better relations with countries in regions like the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.

Belarus–Russia relations

Russia and Belarus have had a close relationship since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, of which both countries were a part. Belarus is in a supranational union with Russia, and the two countries have committed to a monetary union, equal rights, single citizenship, and a common defence and foreign policy. Russia is Belarus's largest and most important partner in both the political and economic fields. Almost half of Belarusian exports go to Russia, and Belarus relies on Russia for export markets and the supply of raw materials and components.

Belarus–European Union relations

The EU recognised Belarus as an independent state in December 1991, and relations initially progressed steadily. However, progress stalled in 1996 after setbacks to the development of democracy and the Drazdy conflict. The EU did not recognise the 1996 constitution, and in 1997 decided against Belarus in several areas, including not concluding the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and not supporting Belarusian membership in the Council of Europe. In 2005, the EU imposed travel restrictions on officials responsible for fraudulent elections and human rights violations.

Belarus–United States relations

The US recognised Belarus's independence in December 1991, and diplomatic relations were established in 1992. The US has encouraged Belarus to conclude agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and undertake increased privatisation. However, the relationship has soured due to accusations of a lack of democracy in Belarus. The US has restricted the travel of President Alexander Lukashenko and members of his inner circle, as well as imposing economic sanctions.

Belarus–Baltic relations

In 2005, Amnesty International reported a pattern of deliberate obstruction, harassment, and intimidation of human rights defenders in Belarus. Lukashenko has been accused of hounding and arresting journalists from the country's Polish minority, and closing the country's main Polish newspaper. In response, Poland recalled its ambassador from Belarus and called on the EU to impose sanctions.

Relations with other countries

Belarus has diplomatic relations with many other countries, including:

• China
• India
• Iran
• Israel
• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Mongolia
• Pakistan
• South Korea
• Syria
• Tajikistan
• Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• Uzbekistan
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• The UK
• Hungary
• Germany
• Spain
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Moldova
• The Netherlands
• Poland
• Romania
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Ukraine
• Finland
• France
• The Czech Republic
• Switzerland
• Sweden
• Estonia
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Venezuela
• Cuba
• Colombia
• Egypt
• Kenya
• Nigeria
• South Africa

Belarus's culture and society

The culture of Belarus is the result of a millennium of development influenced by various factors, including its physical environment, the ethnographic background of its people, and the region's diverse religions.

Historical Influences

The earliest period of settlement by East Slavs left little impact on modern Belarusian culture, which began to emerge in the 16th century. Long periods of foreign control by Lithuania, Poland, Tsarist Russia, and the Soviet Union introduced a series of outside influences, from European Baroque and Classical architectural styles to the cultural constraints of Socialist Realism. Despite efforts to suppress the Belarusian language and culture, Belarusians preserved their distinctiveness.

Cultural Identity

The cultural identity of Belarusians is shaped by spiritual values that celebrate morality and humanity, with a strong rejection of evil and violence. These values are reflected in architectural and artistic traditions, unique musical compositions, and literature.

Art, Music, and Literature

Belarusian literature dates back to the 11th century, with notable literary figures including Francysk Skaryna, who translated the Bible into the vernacular (Old Belarusian) in the 16th century, and poets Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas, whose works epitomized the development of Belarusian literature.

Music has also played a significant role in Belarusian culture, with the first major musical composition being the opera "Faust" by Antoni Radziwiłł. Folk music and folk rock acts like Pesniary, Stary Olsa, and Vicious Crusade are popular, while rock music emerged during the Perestroika times.

Cuisine

Belarusian cuisine often incorporates locally grown crops, with potatoes being a nearly ubiquitous ingredient. Popular dishes include potato dumplings, potato pancakes, baked potato pie, borsch (beet soup), pork stew, stuffed chicken, and various meat-filled pastries. Dairy products such as tvorog (a fresh cheese) and siyr (a fermented cheese) are also common. Kvass, a traditional drink made from fermented bread, and kompot, a berry juice, accompany meals.

Festivals and Holidays

The country hosts several cultural festivals, including the Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk, the Spring International Music Festival in Minsk, and the Arts for Children and Youth festival. Independence Day, celebrated on July 3, is the national holiday, although some opposition groups recognize the pre-Soviet date of July 27. Most Soviet holidays are still commemorated, especially Victory Day (May 9) and religious holidays like Orthodox and Roman Catholic Easters.

Sports

Football (soccer) is undoubtedly the most popular sport in Belarus, with teams in most towns and villages. Other well-liked sports include basketball, ice hockey, athletics (track and field), gymnastics, and wrestling. Belarus has a well-organized sports education system, producing successful athletes such as weightlifter Alexander Kurlovich, tennis player Natalia Zvereva, and skater Igor Zhelezovsky.

Frequently asked questions