Introduction
Democratic principles are essential to the creation of appropriate living conditions and ensuring a high quality of life for all citizens. Without democratic principles lying at the core of the political system of a state, citizens’ rights may be abused systematically (McAllister & White, 2015). Therefore, encouraging the promotion of democracy to the states where certain groups or the entirety of the population are marginalized is critical. Belarus is one of such states since the key principles of democracy are ignored by the ruling party (USAID, 2012). By introducing parliamentary democracy to the political framework of the state, one will be able to improve the current situation in Belarus and ensure that its residents can enjoy their rights and freedoms.
Political History of Belarus
Although the origins of the Belarus ethnicity date back to the 9th century, Belarus was established as a sovereign state only in 1918, when it gained independence from the Russian SFSR for a brief moment (Lewis, 2018). Although Belarus was soon taken over by the USSR, its people developed a sense of national identity that made them a distinctly unique ethnic group (Lewis, 2018).
Therefore, as the USSR collapsed, the Belarussian people were ready to build their own sovereign state, Stanislav Shushkevich having been selected as the leader of Belarus. In the first elections in 1994, Alexander Lukashenko was voted for the president of Belarus and has been at the helm of the state ever since (Lewis, 2018). While presidential elections are held every five years, they are typically regarded as unfair due to the absence of change within the state power structure.
Barriers and the Means of Overcoming Them
There are several barriers to establishing uninhibited democracy in Belarus, the presence of bureaucracy being the key one. The current lack of political and social activity among citizens is another issue that affects the promotion of democratic principles within the state. Changes in the social perception of the subject matter also affect the present-day situation significantly. Being either unaware of the possibility of change or scared into compliance, people refuse to rebel against injustice.
Thus, mass awareness has to be raised to counteract the current democratic issues within the state. Last but definitely not least, the presence of a corrupt political system that does not allow fair elections needs to be managed accordingly (McAllister & White, 2015). By removing the mechanisms that help Lukashenko to retain nearly absolute power in his hands, one will create an environment that will be favorable for encouraging democracy.
Introducing a Demographics Ideology
When promoting democratic principles to the specified setting, one should bear in mind that a significant resistance among Byelorussians themselves is expected in the process. Therefore, it is critical to ensure that mass awareness is raised and that people are ready to accept the changes that will improve the quality of their lives and provide them with the rights to which they are entitled based on democratic principles (McAllister & White, 2015). Therefore, parliamentary democracy should be established within the state as opposed to the current model of the presidential one.
Conclusion
Enhancement of democratic principles in the states where people’s rights are infringed upon systematically is an essential step toward promoting global well-being. Belarus is one of the states that requires political changes to ensure that its citizens are given indefeasible rights to which they are entitled according to the basic principles of democracy. Therefore, alterations have to be made on several levels, including political, legal, and social ones, to encourage a positive change.
References
Lewis, S. M. (2018). Belarus – Alternative visions: Nation, memory and cosmopolitanism. New York, NY: Routledge.
McAllister, I., & White, S. (2015). Electoral integrity and support for democracy in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. Journal of Elections, Public Opinion & Parties, 25(1), 78-96. Web.
USAID. (2012). List of advanced developing countries: A mandatory reference for ADS chapter 310. Web.