One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: An Analysis of the Post-Soviet Transition in Belarus

The republic of Belarus has experienced several stages of transition after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The first stage was characterized by an attempt to shift away from the soviet production techniques, experimenting with practices drawn from the West. The temporary parliament of 1990-1994 implemented a series of market reforms during the first years of Belarusian independence. However, the market reforms generated disappointing results which were further compounded by a general social discontent. These unsatisfactory results animated the revival of central planning and state control over distribution of goods. This reemergence of the state distinguishes a second stage of the post-soviet transition. The values of totalitarianism have remained strong for almost two decades despite the efforts in economic and political transformation and a general trend of capitalist development among neighboring countries