Friday 29 March 2024 | 09:40

A book about civil society in Belarus published

06.09.2015  |  Society
A book about civil society in Belarus published

The publication is a collection of texts devoted to the development of civil society during the last 15 years that in a critical-minded way sum up the efforts of Belarusan non-state organisations.

It deals with various dimensions of civil activity, including cultural activity, gender issues, political solidarity, local self-government, civil education, relationships among religious groups, youth subcultures, environmentalist movement, and the process of (de)consolidation and (de)politicization of civic sector. The publication also sheds light on different understandings of civil society in Belarusian mass-media and the practice of substitution of civil society for state-run non-governmental organizations. Daily life of civic sector is described, as well as the peculiarities of the provision of social services by NGOs.

The publication opens with an analytical article by a sociologist and publication’s co-editor Aliaksei Lastouski “Solidarity test: reaction of Belarusan civil society to events in Ukraine in 2013-14”.

A researcher from the Institute for Political Studies “Political Sphere” Vadzim Smok presents his article “How Cultural NGOs Struggle for the Right to Be Belarusan”.

A researcher from the same institute Vadzim Bylina writes about “Football fans as an example of a community beyond the government’s control in the conditions of the authoritarian regime”.

A sociologist Ihar Rasolka reflects on “Politicisation of civil society in an apolitical society: paternalism, deconsolidation and action strategies of social agents”.

The publication also features a study by a renowned political scientist Vitali Silitski (1972—2011) “Civic sector in Belarus: its daily life and organisational processes ”.

The publication contains another big study by Natallia Vasilevich titled “Church and state in Belarus in the period of consolidated authoritarianism”.

A researcher from Manchester University Iryna Clark writes about “Mediation of the term ‘civil society’ in the Belarusian press (1991—2010)”.

A political scientist from European Humanities University Tatsiana Chulitskaya presents her study “Social organisations in Belarus: between the state and society”.

Tatsiana Shchurko writes about “Gender sector and civil society in post-Soviet Belarus ”.

A civic activist Anastasia Matchanka shares her observations in the article: “Substitution of Civil Society in Belarus: Government-Organised Non-Governmental Organisations”.

An analyst from the Belarusan Institute for Strategic Studies Alena Artsiomenkа makes her contribution to exploration of the central topic of the issue with her article “(De)-consolidation of civic society in Belarus: decreased potential for solidarity action, depoliticization, disagreements about values ”.

An expert from Lev Sapieha Foundation for Democratic Reforms, Mikhas Pliska in his article “Local self-government: fifth wheel in the wagon of central power” criticises the absence of reforms at the local administration level.

Viachaslau Babrovich critically assesses the effort directed at civil education of citizens in his article “Civic education in Belarus: concepts, standards and lack of demand from the society”.

And finally, Uladzimir Rouda classifies data from international organizations on civil activity in the country in his article “Assessment of the state of civil society in Belarus in Freedom House and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) reports in 1999-2013”.

The publication closes with a “List of reading on Belarusan civil society research (2000—2014)” prepared by Aliaksei Lastouski.

The Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs of Belarus

Other news section «Society»

What actually the State List of Historical and Cultural Values gives to Belarusan Heritage Sites?
What actually the State List of Historical and Cultural Values gives to Belarusan Heritage Sites?
The Belarus Committee of ICOMOS announces the collection of cases on the effectiveness of the State List of Historical and Cultural Values as a tool of the safeguarding the cultural monuments.
The right to heritage according to the standards of the Faro Convention: is it possible in Belarus?
The right to heritage according to the standards of the Faro Convention: is it possible in Belarus?
On March 27-28, the Belarus ICOMOS and the EuroBelarus held an online expert workshop on expanding opportunities for community participation in the governance of historical and cultural heritage.
“It is our big joint work”
“It is our big joint work”
It is impossible to change life in cities just in three years (the timeline of the “Agenda 50” campaign implementation). But changing the structure of relationships in local communities is possible.
The “Agenda 50” campaign was finalised by the Regional Development Forum
The “Agenda 50” campaign was finalised by the Regional Development Forum
The Forum was devoted not so much to the outputs as to the challenges and prospects after the creation and signing of local agendas.
Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool
Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool
To achieve changes, you need to be interested in them and stop pinning all hopes on the state.
“If a person cannot leave the apartment, he or she does not need an accessible Opera House”
“If a person cannot leave the apartment, he or she does not need an accessible Opera House”
In Stoubcy, they talked about universal design and conducted pilot monitoring of two urban sites accessibility.
Local agenda in Valożyn: mission accomplished
Local agenda in Valożyn: mission accomplished
"Specificity is different, but the priority is general." In Valożyn, a local strategy for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed.
How Ščučyn was proceeding towards the solution of problems of people with disabilities
How Ščučyn was proceeding towards the solution of problems of people with disabilities
The campaign "Agenda 50" was summed up in Ščučyn, and a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed there.
A program to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities was designed in Stolin
A program to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities was designed in Stolin
The regional center has become the second city in Belarus where the local plan for the implementation of the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed.
“Agenda 50” in Belarus: from strategies to implementation
“Agenda 50” in Belarus: from strategies to implementation
Representatives of the campaign “Agenda 50” from five pilot cities discussed achievements in creating local agendas for implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In Stoubcy, a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention was signed
In Stoubcy, a local action plan for the implementation of the Convention was signed
It is noteworthy that out of the five pilot cities, Stoubcy was the last to join the campaign “Agenda 50”, but the first one to complete the preparation of the local agenda.
The monitoring of accessibility was presented in Stolin
The monitoring of accessibility was presented in Stolin
On May 28, the city hosted a presentation of the results of the project "Equal to Equal" which was dedicated to monitoring the barrier-free environment in the city.
“They think if the legs don’t function, neither functions the head.”
“They think if the legs don’t function, neither functions the head.”
In Babruysk, wheelchair users are fighting discrimination.
The real work of the Convention depends on all interested communities and organizations
The real work of the Convention depends on all interested communities and organizations
What results has the campaign "Agenda 50" given, what helps to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the regions?
The Convention is a fight against fears, barriers and stigmata
The Convention is a fight against fears, barriers and stigmata
Experts in Valožyn have determined that the quality of people’s life depends on their awareness.
The Convention should become a "living tool”, rather than remaining just an ordinary document
The Convention should become a "living tool”, rather than remaining just an ordinary document
On March 3, members of the campaign "Agenda 50" from different Belarusian cities met in Minsk. The campaign is aimed at the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The main thing is one’s personal motivation for full active life (PHOTOS)
The main thing is one’s personal motivation for full active life (PHOTOS)
There are being implemented three projects under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities campaign in the city of Babruysk.
One man does not make a team, but united we are able to do a lot
One man does not make a team, but united we are able to do a lot
In Ščučyn, people with disabilities learned to be leaders and to advocate their interests.
Barrier-free environment – it is not a ramp, but a means of independence (PHOTOS)
Barrier-free environment – it is not a ramp, but a means of independence (PHOTOS)
In Stolin, social organizations and local authorities are implementing a project aimed at independent living of persons with disabilities, and creating local agenda for the district.
Polish experts: We say “equality” and you say “inclusion”
Polish experts: We say “equality” and you say “inclusion”
Will creation of local agendas be an effective tool in ensuring rights of persons with disabilities in Belarus, just as it was in Poland?
Gintautas Mažeikis: The relation of political field and arena in the framework of information war

In his report, philosopher Gintautas Mažeikis discusses several concepts that have been a part of the European social and philosophical thought for quite a time.

“It is our big joint work”

It is impossible to change life in cities just in three years (the timeline of the “Agenda 50” campaign implementation). But changing the structure of relationships in local communities is possible.

Shhh! Belarus Wants You to Think It’s Turning Over a New Leaf

Minsk’s muddled media clampdown could jeopardize warming of relations with the West.

Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool

To achieve changes, you need to be interested in them and stop pinning all hopes on the state.