Belarusan Yearbook 2012

13.07.2013 | Society | nmnby.eu & Agency for Social and Political Appraisal,

Published the Belarusan Yearbook 2012. This publication is an annual integral analysis of the essential spheres of the state and society.

The review includes an article Director of the Centre for European Transformation Andrei Yahorau, "Parliamentary Elections 2012: A show in keeping the worst traditions" (pp. 60-70).

The year 2012 is the year of "inertial" post-crisis development of Belarus. The economic crisis as a form of painful remedy against the accumulated macroeconomic disproportions did not resolve the basic problems of the Belarusan socio-economic model, whereas the positive effects of the devaluation of the national currency were exhausted already in the first six months. Having no better strategy, the economic authorities returned to the "time-tested" policy of inflationary growth. All other critical tendencies that formed in 2010-2011 were curbed in the similar manner, i.e. by attempt to restore the previous situation (the conventional "restoration point" is December 2010).

The major trends of year 2012 are the following:

Institutional transformation: "narrowing of the state", increasing role of the Presidential Administration and security agencies;
Imbalances in state authority: uncoordinated actions of the Presidential Administration, the Government and the National Bank;
Crisis of the state policy that shows itself in failure to propose a minimal program of reforms and any program for the future whatsoever;
Increasing foreign-policy and economic dependence of Belarus on Russia;
Narrowing social obligations of the state;
Stagnation of electoral ratings and indicators of confidence in the authorities;
Return to the pre-crisis policy in increasing incomes, search for new sources of long-term growth;
Reduction of able-bodied population, increased temporal labor migration, outflow of manpower.

Contributing to this Belarusan Yearbook 2012 were independent analysts and experts, as well as specialists representing various think tanks, including:

Belarusan Institute for Strategic Studies (BISS);
Institute for Political Studies Palіtyčnaya sfera (Political Sphere);
Research Center of the Institute for Privatization and Management;
Centre for European Transformation;
NOVAK Axiometrical Research Laboratory;
Belarusan Analytical Workshop (Warsaw, Poland);
Independent Institute of Socio-Economic and Political Studies (IISEPS);
Belarusan Economic Research and Outreach Center (BEROC);
Centre for Eastern Studies (Warsaw, Poland);
Polesski Fund of International and Regional Studies (Chernihiv, Ukraine);
eBelarus Research Center;
Agency for Social and Political Appraisal;
Website of the expert community in Belarus Nashe Mnenie (Our opinion).

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