Article Title: Belarus: Europe's Last Dictatorship
Author: Glenn Ellis
Date Published: January 21st, 2016
www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2016/01/belarus-europe-dictator-160120104016003.html
Article Summary:
In October of 2015, Belarus held a political election. It was no surprise that Alexander Lukashenko, a man who had ruled Belarus for over two decades, won the election. Of all the former Soviet republics in Europe, Belarus most closely resembles a Soviet republic before the collapse of the Soviet Union. The country faces many Human Rights violations, still has a secret service named the KGB, and a man who will essentially rule the country until death. Belarus is to Europe as North Korea is to Asia. The country is the last in Europe to still have a dictator by the name of Alexander Lukashenko who has ruled through fear and an iron grip since 1994. The lack of Human Rights and a poor economy makes Belarus seem like a country frozen in time and still stuck in the Cold War era.
Thoughts/Observations of the Article
It surprises me how there is still a country in Europe that is a dictatorship. The article surprised me most when it compared Belarus to North Korea. I do kind of the logic there. Both countries are ruled by dictators through fear, have poor economies, and violate Human Rights. Another fact that surprises me is how no revolutions have yet to occur in Belarus. It must mean that Lukashenko is not the worst dictator in the world or that no one has yet stood up to his tyranny. I can infer that the recent election in Belarus was rigged, so that Lukashenko would win as in any other dictatorship. I can also infer that a lot of corruption occurs in the country resulting in the poor economy. Overall, Belarus seems like one of the least suitable places to live in Europe for me.
How this Article Relates to Politics
The dictatorship in Belarus is very important to the country's politics. It signifies the country's uniform political system for the last two decades. One man has to possibility to do whatever he wants for the country without anyone to stop him. Belarus could change any day because of the decisions of one man. Rigged elections mean the people have no choice in their government, and must obey their ruler to stay alive. The economic conditions in Yemen and lack of Human Rights signify how a dictatorship harms a populations and the politics of a country. If Lukashenko's party were to leave power, it would become very difficult for another party to peacefully move in and take power. It may lead to a civil wat for control of the government similar to what is currently happening in Yemen and Ukraine.
Author: Glenn Ellis
Date Published: January 21st, 2016
www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2016/01/belarus-europe-dictator-160120104016003.html
Article Summary:
In October of 2015, Belarus held a political election. It was no surprise that Alexander Lukashenko, a man who had ruled Belarus for over two decades, won the election. Of all the former Soviet republics in Europe, Belarus most closely resembles a Soviet republic before the collapse of the Soviet Union. The country faces many Human Rights violations, still has a secret service named the KGB, and a man who will essentially rule the country until death. Belarus is to Europe as North Korea is to Asia. The country is the last in Europe to still have a dictator by the name of Alexander Lukashenko who has ruled through fear and an iron grip since 1994. The lack of Human Rights and a poor economy makes Belarus seem like a country frozen in time and still stuck in the Cold War era.
Thoughts/Observations of the Article
It surprises me how there is still a country in Europe that is a dictatorship. The article surprised me most when it compared Belarus to North Korea. I do kind of the logic there. Both countries are ruled by dictators through fear, have poor economies, and violate Human Rights. Another fact that surprises me is how no revolutions have yet to occur in Belarus. It must mean that Lukashenko is not the worst dictator in the world or that no one has yet stood up to his tyranny. I can infer that the recent election in Belarus was rigged, so that Lukashenko would win as in any other dictatorship. I can also infer that a lot of corruption occurs in the country resulting in the poor economy. Overall, Belarus seems like one of the least suitable places to live in Europe for me.
How this Article Relates to Politics
The dictatorship in Belarus is very important to the country's politics. It signifies the country's uniform political system for the last two decades. One man has to possibility to do whatever he wants for the country without anyone to stop him. Belarus could change any day because of the decisions of one man. Rigged elections mean the people have no choice in their government, and must obey their ruler to stay alive. The economic conditions in Yemen and lack of Human Rights signify how a dictatorship harms a populations and the politics of a country. If Lukashenko's party were to leave power, it would become very difficult for another party to peacefully move in and take power. It may lead to a civil wat for control of the government similar to what is currently happening in Yemen and Ukraine.