History of Belarus to 1985 -- The economy: 1986-1996 -- Perestroyka and independence, 1985-1993 -- A new presidency, June 1994-spring 1996 -- Lukashenka's consolidation of power -- Relations with Russia
Summary
"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 the human rights of its citizens, and fundamentally altered its Constitution in favor of presidential authority? Has the country made any progress toward market reforms? How have Russia and the West responded to the actions of Belarus? What is the future likely to hold for its ten million citizens? The author's conclusions, which are based on a full examination of political, economic, and social life in the new post-Soviet Republic of Belarus, are optimistic. Belarus, he believes, will survive into the 21st century, but as a Eurasian rather than European state."--Jacket
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 129-130) and index
