"The Last Soviet Republic-Alexander Lukashenko's Belarus" - Book Review

[3A CCCP]

BOOK REVIEW:

"THE LAST SOVIET REPUBLIC - ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO'S BELARUS"

by Stewart Parker

Paperback: 250 pages
Publisher: Trafford Publishing (August 15, 2007)
Language: English
Available at: Amazon.com

Anyone who desires to learn the truth about President Alexander Lukashenko and Belarus should read this work. The author, Stewart Parker, has no "axe to grind" and presents his material in an objective and unpretentious manner. Parker's narrative is very readable and he covers his subject matter with a flowing style that helps the reader glide from chapter to chapter.

I found his "matter of fact" approach, backed up by source information, to be quite enjoyable. Parker doesn't "beat you over the head." While the author does not openly side with Communism, his objective and logical presentation backed by his research puts the October Revolution, industrialization, collectivization, etc. in a more realistic and positive light than the stereotypical image presented by most western political hacks that masquerade as writers.

Parker's coverage of President Lukashenko and the situation in Belarus after the dissolution of the Soviet Union is detailed and accurate. He reports on this in the main part of the book with the same objectivity, logic, and use of source materials as he does in the first one quarter of the book that is devoted to the country's history. His coverage of Belarus' social and economic systems, human rights policies, international relations, etc. is meticulous and very well presented. The sections that expose and lay bare the United States' hypocrisy and double standards regarding Belarus are worth the price of the book!

I believe this is an excellent book and is MUST reading for anyone who desires to learn the truth about President Lukashenko and Belarus. It is certainly the most objective book that I've read on Belarus and Soviet history by a western author.

3A CCCP!
Mikhail

[Comrade Krell]

Lukashenko embraces 'market socialism' and petite-bourgeois activities, yes?

[3A CCCP]

Lukashenko embraces 'market socialism' and petite-bourgeois activities, yes?

Comrade:

It's not quite as simple as that!

The first thing to understand is that from the day the Byelorussian people elected Alexander Lukashenko and overthrew the bourgeois U.S./E.U. puppet regime of Stanislav Shushkevich in the first free elections in the nation, President Lukashenko has not been in an easy position.

In 1994 when he was elected by a landslide (to the surprise of Shushkevich’s western masters) Alexander Grigoriyevich made it clear to everyone that he would not sell out Belarus to foreign corporations and investors as did the other 14 former Soviet Republics. He immediately made an enemy of the United States and its allies in Western Europe.

Since that time he has been true to his word. 75% of the farms in Belarus are still collective (kolkhoz) or state farms. 80% of the businesses are state owned and heavy/strategic industries are all in state hands.
Television and radio are owned and controlled by the state and much of the printed media is also. Virtually all children attending primary and secondary schools are in the state educational system. 85% of the colleges and universities are state owned and operated.

Byelorussian schools teach Soviet history as something to be proud of and present the Great October Socialist Revolution and the leaders of the Soviet Union as heroic and to be respected and revered. Soviet symbolism is everywhere. The flag and coat of arms of the Byelorussian SSR were restored after a national vote on the issue. Statues and monuments to Soviet and other Communist leaders were restored.

That being said, you have to realize he is walking a tightrope between the U.S./E.U. Imperialist Axis and Putin's state capitalist regime in Moscow (and managing to keep his balance, I might add!).

Emerging Socialist nations like Venezuela have oil and some distance between themselves and the "Great Satan." Belarus has no oil or gas and is right in the middle of the belly of the beast surrounded on all sides. This has resulted in President Lukashenko being forced to tap dance around many issues and avoid making direct statements on where Belarus really stands. You probably have noticed over a period of time he says one thing to the West and another thing to Russia. He has been forced to become an expert at playing both ends against the middle in order to keep enemies and "friends" off-balance" and not knowing what to expect from him.

In the meantime, he has forged strong relationships with Venezuela, Cuba, and other Socialist and anti-imperialist nations of the world. And, on the word “anti-imperialist” is what Marxist-Leninists should base their support of Belarus.

Yes, from the point of view of Marxist-Leninists there are contradictions in Belarus. There are petite bourgeois businesses there. No, it is not a Communist state or a state claiming it is building Communism and world revolution.

However, Belarus is an anti-imperialist nation with a Socialist system where the people come first. President Lukashenko and the Byelorussian people have withstood pressures from all sides for the last 13 years. They have made some compromises in order to survive. But, they have survived and keep the history of the Great October alive in the minds of their young people.

Belarus is what it is. It is about as Socialist as it gets in the world today!

I don't intend arguing about it here on revleft. As I said, it is not a Communsit state building world revolution. Again, it is what it is. If it is not to your liking that is up to you. Let's leave it at that.

3A CCCP!
Mikhail
P.S. If you are interested in reading up to date news on Belarus I invite you to join my yahoo news/discussion forum, "Soviet Belarus." The link is:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SovietBelarus/

[Comrade Krell]

Comrade:

It's not quite as simple as that!

The first thing to understand is that from the day the Byelorussian people elected Alexander Lukashenko and overthrew the bourgeois U.S./E.U. puppet regime of Stanislav Shushkevich in the first free elections in the nation, President Lukashenko has not been in an easy position.

In 1994 when he was elected by a landslide (to the surprise of Shushkevich’s western masters) Alexander Grigoriyevich made it clear to everyone that he would not sell out Belarus to foreign corporations and investors as did the other 14 former Soviet Republics. He immediately made an enemy of the United States and its allies in Western Europe.

Since that time he has been true to his word. 75% of the farms in Belarus are still collective (kolkhoz) or state farms. 80% of the businesses are state owned and heavy/strategic industries are all in state hands.
Television and radio are owned and controlled by the state and much of the printed media is also. Virtually all children attending primary and secondary schools are in the state educational system. 85% of the colleges and universities are state owned and operated.

Byelorussian schools teach Soviet history as something to be proud of and present the Great October Socialist Revolution and the leaders of the Soviet Union as heroic and to be respected and revered. Soviet symbolism is everywhere. The flag and coat of arms of the Byelorussian SSR were restored after a national vote on the issue. Statues and monuments to Soviet and other Communist leaders were restored.

That being said, you have to realize he is walking a tightrope between the U.S./E.U. Imperialist Axis and Putin's state capitalist regime in Moscow (and managing to keep his balance, I might add!).

Emerging Socialist nations like Venezuela have oil and some distance between themselves and the "Great Satan." Belarus has no oil or gas and is right in the middle of the belly of the beast surrounded on all sides. This has resulted in President Lukashenko being forced to tap dance around many issues and avoid making direct statements on where Belarus really stands. You probably have noticed over a period of time he says one thing to the West and another thing to Russia. He has been forced to become an expert at playing both ends against the middle in order to keep enemies and "friends" off-balance" and not knowing what to expect from him.

In the meantime, he has forged strong relationships with Venezuela, Cuba, and other Socialist and anti-imperialist nations of the world. And, on the word “anti-imperialist” is what Marxist-Leninists should base their support of Belarus.

Yes, from the point of view of Marxist-Leninists there are contradictions in Belarus. There are petite bourgeois businesses there. No, it is not a Communist state or a state claiming it is building Communism and world revolution.

However, Belarus is an anti-imperialist nation with a Socialist system where the people come first. President Lukashenko and the Byelorussian people have withstood pressures from all sides for the last 13 years. They have made some compromises in order to survive. But, they have survived and keep the history of the Great October alive in the minds of their young people.

Belarus is what it is. It is about as Socialist as it gets in the world today!

I don't intend arguing about it here on revleft. As I said, it is not a Communsit state building world revolution. Again, it is what it is. If it is not to your liking that is up to you. Let's leave it at that.

3A CCCP!
Mikhail
P.S. If you are interested in reading up to date news on Belarus I invite you to join my yahoo news/discussion forum, "Soviet Belarus." The link is:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SovietBelarus/
Sounds like you're making excuses for a country which is still a bourgeois state.

[Chom]

Lukashenko embraces 'market socialism' and petite-bourgeois activities, yes?

Can't agree with you. You should really take a look on how the European Union and the European media treats the government in Belarus; trade embargos are being imposed, sanctions are on their way, numerous attempts on forcing Belarus universities into the Bologna Process (which is no EU project, but a project run by no other than the WTO [if you take a close look] to privatise all european universities), and all this just because a small reactionary group went out to the streets to protest in 2006 (I believe) on Lukashenko's stay in power for too long (8 years I think...)...

That, and that he still maintains soviet policies... But now the EU get's really angry... Other than that, as 3A CCCP pointed out, good things happen in Belarus. Nothing compared to what might happen with Raul's Cuba, as we all fear.

[3A CCCP]

Sounds like you're making excuses for a country which is still a bourgeois state.

All I will say to that is I suggest your read Parker's book and join Soviet Belarus yahoo group for daily information and discussion on Belarus.

I make no excuses for Belarus and our Batko for any reason. Especially, not to you or some other leftists who may think Belarus is not left enough or is a bourgeois state. 10 million of my countrymen and I are willing to die for Belarus and our leader. There isn't any head of state out there that is more honest, caring for his people, or more adamant and courageous in his opposition to U.S./E.U. imperialism.

Believe what you will. Belarus is a a country that goes by the principle of the STATE FOR THE PEOPLE in practice! Not just in theory!

3A CCCP!
Mikhail

[Sam_b]

The history of Germany is a copy of the history of Belarus. Germany was raised from the ruins thanks to firm authority, and not everything connected with that well known figure, Adolf Hitler, was bad. German order evolved over the centuries and under Hitler it attained its peak.



I regard [Yugoslav leader Slobodan] Milosevic as a legally elected president... He was elected by his people. It is a friendly state. And if Milosevic needs help and support, we will always give him this support. But I don't think that it will go that far. The West has declared many people criminal, all those who disagreed with it were declared criminals by democracy. So were we.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3881341.stm

http://www.ilga.org/news_results.asp?LanguageID=1&FileCategory=4&ZoneID=4&FileID=300 - Allegations of government intimidation in cancelling Gay Pride Festival.

Thoughts?

[3A CCCP]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3881341.stm

http://www.ilga.org/news_results.asp?LanguageID=1&FileCategory=4&ZoneID=4&FileID=300 - Allegations of government intimidation in cancelling Gay Pride Festival.

Thoughts?

I will just repeat my previous suggestion - read Parker's book and join Soviet Belarus yahoo news/discussion forum for up to date news and facts. Responding to out of context quotes from western propaganda that is posted on the internet is a waste of time.

If you are that anti-Belarus, then you are anti-Belarus. (But, it does seem strange that you people get all of your material from bourgeois western sources and then turn around and call Belarus bourgeois.)

3A CCCP!
Mikhail

[Sam_b]

out of context quotes

Praytell, how can a quote stating that "under Hitler it (Germany) attained its peak" be taken out of context?

And it is duly noted as pathetic that you are labelling me and anyone criticising or even asking for clarification on some of these matters as being bourgeois. Try harder.

So I'll ask again - ar eyou going to defend what your glorious President has said in regards to Hitler, Milosevic, or ofer an explanation into the abandoning of the Pride event under government pressure?

[3A CCCP]

Praytell, how can a quote stating that "under Hitler it (Germany) attained its peak" be taken out of context?
And it is duly noted as pathetic that you are labelling me and anyone criticising or even asking for clarification on some of these matters as being bourgeois. Try harder.
So I'll ask again - ar eyou going to defend what your glorious President has said in regards to Hitler, Milosevic, or ofer an explanation into the abandoning of the Pride event under government pressure?

Unfortunately, the media organization that you quote (BBC) and other western news media such as Reuters, the Associated Press, etc. never seem to cite their sources and have a history of distorting anything that President Lukashenko says.

The BBC's report of the alleged "praising of Hitler" by President Lukashenko in a 1995 interview to the German newspaper "Handelsblatt" is a perfect example of this practice. The actual interview was on the subject of the Byelorussian economy, and contained absolutely NO reference at all to Hitler.

The German correspondent who carried out the interview, Dr. Markus Zeiner, told the British Helsinki Human Right Group (BHHRG), "a tape of the interview had been quoted out of context and with the sequence of comments altered by the Russian media." (The BHHRG reported on this in their article "Belarus-Pariah or Victim?", 1997.)

Dr. Zeiner wrote to the Russian media publication and broadcasters who had used these "quotes" to inform them of their non-factual base, but never received a reply. The source of this spread of mis-information is attributed to an interview with the Russsian NTV network in order to divert attention away from a non-existent comment in the Handelsblatt, to erroneous Russian reporting.

President Lukashenko himself was shocked when told how he was quoted. In a later interview with another German newspaper, "Der Spiegel," the President said, "If I really had said that I would have been driven out of my post the next day!"

The western bourgeois media, owned and controlled by the rich, has been conducting a campaign of misquotes, ommissions, and outright lies against President Lukashenko since the U.S. and E.U. realized that they were not going to be allowed to step in, buy out the country, and turn the Byelorussian people into their shoeshine boys and lackies. At the time of this "Hitler" quote the gangster Yeltsin regime was pissed off at President Lukashenko and the Russian media was also out to get him along with the West.

With the above in mind, I am not going to waste my time digging into the rest of the nonsense you have come up with from your bourgeois sources. Be my guest if you and your "comrades" want to believe the BBC, CNN, Associated Press, Reuters, and the rest of them. It's amazing how some "Communists" are so ready to believe the western media when it suits their personal agenda.

3A CCCP!
Mikhail

[Comrade Krell]

It's not about Belarus 'not being left-wing enough', this isn't a petty game we are talking about, we are talking about if Belarus is a dictatorship of the proletariat or a dictatorship of the bourgeois, the State can only serve the interests of one class or another. Plainly I am not interested in such Soviet reactionary nostalgia and obvious social-chauvinism.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that Lukashenko opposes Western imperialism, but by his own admission he is NOT a Communist and he follows 'market socialism'.

[Sam_b]

With the above in mind, I am not going to waste my time digging into the rest of the nonsense you have come up with from your bourgeois sources

This is a cop-out. Typical Stalinist practice of condemning all critical opinion with being the 'bourgeois' media. I am not particularly pro or anti Belarus, in fact I know little about it, so when I see these quotes and ask for an explanation and I am met with accusations of personal agendas and pandering to the bourgeoisie; it shows someone clearly on the defensive and hostile to any open debate.

Do you have answers for the other sources, or is it good enough to claim that every news item coming out of the West is a baseless attack on the 'last soviet republic'?

[3A CCCP]

This is a cop-out. Typical Stalinist practice of condemning all critical opinion with being the 'bourgeois' media. I am not particularly pro or anti Belarus, in fact I know little about it, so when I see these quotes and ask for an explanation and I am met with accusations of personal agendas and pandering to the bourgeoisie; it shows someone clearly on the defensive and hostile to any open debate.
Do you have answers for the other sources, or is it good enough to claim that every news item coming out of the West is a baseless attack on the 'last soviet republic'?

I don't have the time or the inclination to play your Trot games and answer every baseless accusation on your "BBC" list. I gave you an in depth, truthful answer to your BBC accusation of President Lukashenko supporting Hitler. It can be checked out if you want to dig into it to verify what I said.

If you want to get answers to your questions join

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SovietBelarus/

and post all the questions that you want. I or others will answer them with verifiable sources.

Your demand for answers to your "BBC" list of slanderous quotations against President Lukashenko was presented in a confrontational manner from the start and not in a comradely fashion as a request for information.

Why not read Parker's book that I reviewed? Why not join Soviet Belarus and post questions if you are really interested in learning something?

The truth of the matter is that you are not looking for answers to questions, but are looking for any grounds to attack our President. (I would suspect that as a Trotskyite you despise President Lukashenko because of his affinity for comrade Stalin.) I wrote the book review so people would know that there is truthful information on Belarus and President Lukashenko available.

You turned a book review into a battleground for no apparent reason except to satisfy your own personal political agenda.

3A CCCP!
Mikhail

[Digitalism]

3A CCCP

здорово друг! ты где живёшь ?

Lukashenko was giving his televised New Year's Eve speech - a common practice among leaders in the Soviet Union, and still is today. And he had said some very good things about progress in the country and with 3A CCCP expanded post looks like things are going well for socialism in post-Soviet eastern bloc.

[Sam_b]

your Trot games

So instead of giving real answers, you hide behind stereotypes and sectarianism?


I gave you an in depth, truthful answer to your BBC accusation of President Lukashenko supporting Hitler

You did, though I said I wasn't sure whether this could ever be taken out of contest. But no matter, it was an answer and I am thankful. So why no answers for defending Milosevic or the breakup of the Pride event? Why can't you answer here instead of on your Yahoo group?


was presented in a confrontational manner from the start

I didn't know the word 'thoughts?' was openly hostile at all. If you think I wa sout of line I apologise.


The truth of the matter is that you are not looking for answers to questions, but are looking for any grounds to attack our President. (I would suspect that as a Trotskyite you despise President Lukashenko because of his affinity for comrade Stalin.)

I've already said that I know little of Belarus and its President. This list of accusations was brought up while I was looking into the subject. Are you going to answer me, or in Stalinist fashion condemn me for being a Trotskyist?


your own personal political agenda

Trust me, I have better things to do than try to set a political agenda on a web forum.

You could answer me and give me an answer why all this criticism has appeared to arise from Belerus' president. Or you could be seen as cowardly with no political defense of some things that have been reportedly said. The choice is yours.

[3A CCCP]

So instead of giving real answers, you hide behind stereotypes and sectarianism?



You did, though I said I wasn't sure whether this could ever be taken out of contest. But no matter, it was an answer and I am thankful. So why no answers for defending Milosevic or the breakup of the Pride event? Why can't you answer here instead of on your Yahoo group?



I didn't know the word 'thoughts?' was openly hostile at all. If you think I wa sout of line I apologise.



I've already said that I know little of Belarus and its President. This list of accusations was brought up while I was looking into the subject. Are you going to answer me, or in Stalinist fashion condemn me for being a Trotskyist?



Trust me, I have better things to do than try to set a political agenda on a web forum.

You could answer me and give me an answer why all this criticism has appeared to arise from Belerus' president. Or you could be seen as cowardly with no political defense of some things that have been reportedly said. The choice is yours.


Hey, Trot:

You're not the prosecutor and I'm not on a witness stand. As I said, I don't have time to sit here and play your Trot games. (No matter what I answer you won't be satisfied. This is demonstrated by your continued insistence that the "Hitler" quote cannot be taken out of context even though I provided evidence that "Hitler" was never even mentioned and the whole interview was doctored by Yeltsin's journalists.)

Why are you afraid to join Soviet Belarus? Because you won't be on a message board where Trots and other anti-Soviet scum are in the majority? Because there are plenty of people to answer your "laundry list" of contrived questions attacking President Lukashenko?

3A CCCP!
Mikhail

[3A CCCP]

3A CCCP

здорово друг! ты где живёшь ?

Lukashenko was giving his televised New Year's Eve speech - a common practice among leaders in the Soviet Union, and still is today. And he had said some very good things about progress in the country and with 3A CCCP expanded post looks like things are going well for socialism in post-Soviet eastern bloc.

Здравствуй мой друг!

Я живу в штате Миннисота недалеко от города Минниаполис. Где ты живешь?

В Белоруссии живут хорошо потому, что там государство для народа! Белорусское государство отказывается от капитализма и борется с имериализмом США и ЕС! К сожалению, это не так в странах бывшего Варшавского Договора. Народы в этих странах стонут под игом НАТО, США и ЕС.

3А СССР!
Михаил

[Sam_b]

I don't have time to sit here and play your Trot games

You're just making yourself look like an idiot by saying things like that.


No matter what I answer you won't be satisfied. This is demonstrated by your continued insistence that the "Hitler" quote cannot be taken out of context even though I provided evidence that "Hitler" was never even mentioned and the whole interview was doctored by Yeltsin's journalists

Yes. Supporting Hitler cannot be taken out of context. If it was artificially added in that is a different story. But I'll ask again - seeing as you completely ignored my question again - what about the Pride event, and what about supporting Milosevic?


Why are you afraid to join Soviet Belarus? Because you won't be on a message board where Trots and other anti-Soviet scum are in the majority? Because there are plenty of people to answer your "laundry list" of contrived questions attacking President Lukashenko?

No, because I don't feel I need to join a propoganda group when you can answer me here. So, why can't you answer me here?

As someone coming in with no prerequisites about the Belorussian state, you seem to come here on very much the offensive when some points of clarification are asked. Why not engage with debate rather than upholding the Stalinist stereotype of silencing opposition by calling people 'Trots'?