Elzbieta Szumanska

Direct Democracy in Belarus: Impact of Direct Democracy on International Relations Belarus' Elzbieta Szumanska

Seminar paper from the year 2009 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Region: Russia, grade: 1.0, European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), course: Direct Democracy: Theory and Practice., language: English, comment: Theoretical arguments and empirical evidence regarding direct democracy in Transition Countries is not always compatible, as many think (FREY 2003: 1f). While direct democracy usually raise trust and political interest by the society, in some undemocratic countries it cannot produce this outcome. In Belarus, a country with a very weak national identity, high dependency on Russia and sanctions by the European Union, institutions of direct democracy serve exclusively strengthening the ruling power of the dictator and legitimizing his decisions. What are reasons for this situation? , abstract: In order to proof democratic developments in Belarus the following study will be divided into five different sections. The opening section positions Belarus within contemporary debate about the concept of the Direct Democracy, with a special focus on the relevance and functions of the institution of referendum and plebiscite. Next, the paper reviews the Belarusian referenda since president Lukashenko came to power. First, legal bases for this kind of institution must be presented. Further, detailed course within the timeframe of May 1995 and October 2004 in connection with a public reaction on them and an international appraisal will be shown. Section three of the paper then considers the historical context of Belarus with a special focus on the Soviet period in order to elucidate the issues mentioned. Long dependence may explain why there exists a big mistrust to international institutions and the West as such. This section presents also possible reasons of the weak Belarusian national identity and lack of the civil society in the country. Next chapter looks after possible ways Belarus should follow. Having in mind the way the direct democracy has