Belarus, although frequently overlooked in the West, is a country critical to the development of the post-Soviet states and to Europe as a whole. Its location alone points to Belarus's importance as a major geopolitical player. On top of that, the ambitions of its president mean that Belarus will likely have a say in the future of Russia, Ukraine, and other neighboring states.
Source: Washington
To address what, to date, has been short-sighted and potentially dangerous neglect of Belarus, the editors of this book bring together essays by specialists from Belarus, Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, and the United States to focus on Belarus's place in the evolving European security environment. No other publication has taken such a diverse approach to this little-understood country.
About the Authors
Sherman W. Garnett dean of James Madison College at Michigan State University. During his five years at the Endowment, he was a senior associate and co-director of the Project on Security and National Identity in the Russia and Eurasia Program and author of Keystone in the Arch: Ukraine in the Emerging Security Environment of Central and Eastern Europe.
Robert Legvold is professor of political science at Columbia University, where he specializes in the international relations of the post-Soviet states. He was director of the Harriman Institute, Columbia University, from 1986 to 1992. Prior to going to Columbia in 1984, he served for six years as senior fellow and director of the Soviet Studies Project at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.
“There are few good books on modern Belarus, and this is undoubtedly one of the best.”
—Andrew Wilson, The Slavonic and East European Review
“No other publication has taken such a diverse approach to this little understood country.”
—Brookings Institution
Robert Legvold
Robert Legvold is Marshall D. Shulman Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Science at Columbia University.
Sherman W. Garnett
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
Andrey Melnichenko’s essay offers no answer to the fundamental question of how, under any kind of negotiated settlement, Europe can protect itself from the Russian ressentiment that is inevitable in all scenarios except for an outright victory for Putin.
Leonid Bershidsky
The recent damage inflicted by Ukrainian drones and missiles on Russia has made Belarus aware of its own vulnerabilities—and surprisingly amenable to Kyiv’s demands.
Artyom Shraibman
It is not a phenomenon unique to Russia that the public of a country at war (even the aggressor) enduring airstrikes will not overturn its government but rather show solidarity with it and blame its woes on the enemy.
Vladislav Gorin
Ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East allows Moscow to both increase its influence in Tehran and continue to enjoy the financial windfall of higher oil prices.
Nikita Smagin
Reestablishing a dialogue with Moscow is not a goal in its own right. The goal is to guarantee the independence of Ukraine and the peace and security of Europe.
Arkady Moshes
