Mapping civil society of Belarus. Briefing paper

One of significant problems of transformations’ efficiency in Belarus is not the inconsistence of actions and policies of domestic democratic agents and this of foreign policies towards Belarus. The European Union policy towards Belarus considers only...

One of significant problems of transformations’ efficiency in Belarus is not the inconsistence of actions and policies of domestic democratic agents and this of foreign policies towards Belarus. The European Union policy towards Belarus considers only to a small extent the setups of Belarusian civil society and political opposition. Such a situation has been formed not due to the EU and its member states’ reluctance to include Belarus into the political decision-making processes. Launching the European Dialogue on Modernization (from March 2012), the practice of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum activity, invitation of the political opposition representatives to be the observers in EURONEST, regular consultations with the civil society on the priorities of development programs, and many other facts demonstrate rather the opposite. The objective of harmonization of the policies and consideration of opinions both of Belarusian civil society and political opposition can not be solved by European politicians for other reasons. Firstly, due to the absence of a joint strategy of Belarusian democratic forces, and secondly, due to the total plurality of opinions inside Belarus.

Belarusian Democrats do not have a unified position on the strategy for changes in the country, as well as on the policy tools of international influence on the authoritarian regime. Such situation leaves no other outlets for the EU, but making decisions on the basis of their own understanding of the situation and their own notions about the effective tools of influence. In its turn, it reduces greatly the overall effect of any EU actions so far as their actions’ assessment on the part of Belarusians is very controversial. The opposition and civil society fail to clearly explain to the population the meaning and the purpose of public policy steps of the European Union in a joint message. This incapacity in a situation of massive state propaganda contributes to a growth of anti-European sentiments.

It is rather obvious that the Belarusian political forces’ consolidation (particularly, this of the political opposition and civil society) is a major obstacle to any possible changes. Currently, the variance of opinions has led to the fact that the achievement of such unity in the nearest future is a very difficult task. This review examines the dynamics of relationships and guidelines of major political forces in Belarus in two aspects since the last presidential election:

1. The strategy for internal changes in Belarus;
2. The attitude to the European Union restrictive measures against Belarus.

The basis for determining the positions have been taken statements of political and social subjects, expressed in documents, public speeches and interviews of political forces’ leaders and leaders of civil society organizations.

The map of Belarusian social and political forces

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