EDITORIAL FOREWORD

The Belarusian Yearbook is a long-term joint project of Belarus’ expert community. This publication presents an integral analysis of the state of affairs in essential domains of state and society on an annual basis.

The presidential election campaign of 2010 predetermined the developments in almost every segment of social and state life, while the finale of the campaign – the brutal dispersion of the rally in the Independence Square – has already had an impact on all aspects of state life with no exception (including the sectors that have traditionally stayed out of politics – sports, pop-culture, etc.)

Below are the key trends of the year 2010, based on a complex content-analysis of the Yearbook’s texts:

1. Decision-making authority is concentrated within a progressively narrowing group of people who bear no responsibility whatsoever for implementation;
2. The deteriorating state administration crisis manifested itself in a misalignment of policies pursued by state institutions, primarily due to the widening gap between those making decisions and those responsible for implementation;
3. The series of successful attempts to fit into the regional political and economic context through modifications of the foreign political paradigm became a trend that was ruined by late-year developments;
4. Less successful, but not less persistent attempts to overcome the isolation of the state and society were made throughout the year by both sides, but then again, the outcomes of the December 2010 events froze all the positive trends;
5. Belarus has made a name in the global economic system, mostly as a borrower, and completed the year as a debtor with vague repayment prospects.

Contributing to this Yearbook were independent analysts and experts, as well as specialists representing various think tanks, including the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies (BISS), the Institute for Political Studies “Political Sphere”, the Research Center of the Institute for Privatization and Management, the Agency of Humanitarian Technologies – Centre for Social Innovation, NOVAK Axiometrical Research Laboratory, the Independent Institute of Socio-Economic and Political Studies (IISEPS), the Belarusian Economic Research and Outreach Center (BEROC), the Centre for Eastern Studies (Warsaw), the Polesski Fund of International and Regional Studies (Chernigov), eBelarus Research Center.

As a joint effort, the Yearbook is designed to promote public discussions about current transformations in Belarus and development options the country has, and facilitate the work of state functionaries, business managers, members of the diplomatic corps, journalists, politicians and community leaders.

Vitaly Silitsky
Valeria Kostyugova
Anatoly Pankovsky