Uladzimir Matskevich: I started dreaming about independent Belarus in senior school

A way to the future and the future itself are built in consciousness in different ways – we are most likely to dream about the future itself.

We live in the time of general apathy, when there become increasingly less hopes for changes in the near future, which is especially felt in the situation of no sensible common strategies and on the threshold of the new world war. However, there are people who are able to develop strategies as well as think, imagine, dream about Belarus and about what it is to become in the future. And above all, bring this future closer already now.

His thoughts about the image of an “ideal” country with the “EuroBelarus” Information Service shares Uladzimir Matskevich, the head of the Board of the International Consortium “EuroBelarus”, philosopher and methodologist.

- Do you envisage the image of the Belarus’ future?

- For the last 30 years I have been engaged in analytical work, plans, strategies, programs and research. My professional work is a way to the future; whereas I have been having ideas about the future since youth.

In the senior school I started dreaming about the independent Belarus.

- How could a Soviet teenager dream about it?

- I had friends, who were older than me, and relatives, who inspired me to think about it. I was born in a quite anti-Soviet country, so it was more or less natural for me. I even remember when I stated dreaming about it – quite early, at the age of 12. It was then that the Prague and Parisian events were taking place. I knew little, but it was clear for me that people in Prague were also fighting for the independence and the new future, as well as that the Soviet army was suppressing the buds of this future. It was then when the fashion for hippie, new music, and other things spread to the Soviet Union, which inspired teenagers. It wasn’t widespread, but I happened to be such a minority.

Afterwards, when growing up and getting education, I understood how complicated it is and how far it takes from dreams to reality. One should know a lot and work a lot to make them come true.

Nevertheless, when professionally elaborating strategies, exploring the reality, one cannot do without these visual images.

- Perhaps, now we have something that can be the foundation of the future Belarus?

- Yes, we already have a lot: the economic structure changes all over the world, and some things can be done with the help of new nano- and 3D technology.

- What about Belarus?

- We have to restore all that in Belarus. To recall how we made homemade cheeses, brew, fabrics, Slutsk belts, studies and research is needed. This work is under way, too. Many young people (as there is no need to go to the factories and collective farms) are increasingly choosing professions associated with creative work.

- What about social life?

- A lot of attention is paid to communication problems. In Belarus, at this future moment there are tens of thousands of public associations that gather interested people from around the country. A lot of people work in research institutions, which closely cooperate with public organizations. There are no state plans for these institutions; they are not financed from public or state funds but are self-funded, since not much money is needed to communicate with one another. Representatives of these organizations can freely enter the parliament or local assemblies. There is no need to write a formal request – a discussion will make it possible to work out the goal and determine the need for some action in some days; all of that being done with the participation of parliamentarians.

At certain times great hopes were put on e-democracy, but they did not come true. Electronic communication enables to exchange electronic texts and acquire knowledge. But creative thinking and motivation only occurs in close communication. Therefore, Belarusians spend time to talk to each other and consider all the important things needed to equip life.

At this time in future Belarus has its own professional army. Many young people find a vocation in drilling, studying weapons and technology. From time to time they sign up as volunteers in "hot spots" in order to acquire combat experience.

- How do you imagine Belarusans?

- Their mind is freed after the abolition of the dictatorship and the return to the independent democratic development. Our country didn’t join the European Union, although it has signed all the necessary agreements that eliminate visas and other obstacles as well as coordinate standards in various fields. The monetary system of Belarus remained independent; however, cash is almost obsolete, so it does not create any difficulties. Without entering the EU politically, our country actively cooperates with its institutions and participates in elaboration of general policy-making together with the European Parliament. Belarus’ voice has sufficient authority and it’s impossible to make any decision concerning Belarusians without our country.

There are only few countries left outside the EU: Switzerland, Norway, and Belarus. Through our country Europe-Russia relations are carried out. Russian language doesn’t pose any problem for Belarusians in spite of the fact that Belarusian language has finally become the only state language in Belarus.

At the same time we have to accept all world trends. We didn’t avoid migration: now there are Polish, Ukrainian, and Lithuanian schools in Belarus. At the same time the country has become an attraction to Belarusians who once left it. However, Belarus is becoming a multicultural country; but multiculturalism doesn’t prevent the development of national culture and consciousness.

- Can we say that [in this future] the process of Belarusian nation creation is finished?

- Yes, if you look at the utopian Belarus.

- Excellent. But let's get back to the present and think about what we are to do in order to get closer to our imaginary Belarus in the first place?

- Every cloud has a silver lining. The long time of the authoritarian regime in Belarus has worked as a certain slump that flattened the spring of Belarus’ activity. Today we are in a position of such spring. It has stored energy that can break free. The great danger is that if the pressure of authoritarianism decreases the spring will break free and break a lot of things. Our main concern today is to release this energy so that it turns into useful things, not in complete destruction. Therefore, the way to the Belarus of our dreams lies through changes that are a compromise for all.

The first thing we need to start with is that Belarusans are one people, who should come to an agreement with each other, not put the opinion and values of one part forth. Today the state works as a filter, which gives odds to the ideas of one Belarusian minority over the other minorities. The state that is to get formed after today’s regime shouldn’t prioritize any of the minorities, since such imbalance won’t do any good. We shouldn’t spare time to discussions, arguments, and getting to compromise. And the first and foremost function of a new government is to secure such communication. Only reasonable, sensible, and respectful adoption of changes can result in the Belarus of our dreams.