Suchergebnisse

The demography, culture, & language of contemporary Belarus are studied to determine the present level of national self-awareness. An overview of politics & social change in Belarus throughout the 20th century is followed by an analysis of the relationship between nationalism, culture, & native language. Noting the elevation of Russian to national language status under President Alyaksander Lukashenka, it is contended that Belarusian scholars & cultural figures have become increasingly troubled by the loss of their native language. Even though Belarusian culture exists in the background of the national society, it is asserted that the young generation's concern with political issues has raised national consciousness in Belarus during the 1990s. Future research is encouraged to examine the potential relegation of Belarusian to a folk language, along with the role of Belarus in the political sphere dominated by Russia. J. W. Parker

A comment on the articles in a special journal issue on Belarus by Rainer Lindner, Astrid Sahm, & Alexandra Goujon (all, 1999) notes that Belarusian studies has attracted considerable interest in Western institutions. Of special consideration is the growing political interest among Belarus' younger generations. It is concluded that future political change is possible if the nation's democratic system is reinvigorated. J. W. Parker

Between 1987 and 1990, simultaneous with "glasnost' and perestroika" and the rehabilitation of the victims of Stalin's crimes, execution sites were discovered, particularly in the European regions of the former USSR. One such discovery at Kuropaty (formerly Brod) about twelve kilometers north of Minsk, elicited widespread publicity, and was a serious embarrassment to the communist authorities.

Die Präsidentschaftswahlen in der Ukraine vom Juli 1994, bei denen sich Kuchma gegenüber Kravchuk durchsetzte, haben die geographische Teilung des Landes entlang ethnischen Linien ebenso deutlich gemacht wie die politische Spaltung zwischen Pro- Kommunisten im Osten einerseits und Nationalisten und Demokraten im Westen andererseits. Kuchmas Wahlprogramm spiegelt das Bild eines konservativen Politikers wider, der schrittweise Reformen befürwortet, aber ein enges Zusammengehen mit Rußland anstrebt. Kravchuks Niederlage ist seiner Unfähigkeit zuzuschreiben, die drängenden sozioökonomischen Probleme des Landes in den Griff zu bekommen. Der zukünftige Weg der Ukraine wird durch ein geringeres Maß an symbolischem Materialismus auf kulturellem und linguistischem Gebiet und eine engere Bindung an Rußland gekennzeichnet sein. (BIOst-Wpt)