Manaeu: The authorities defeated the opposition in a struggle for youth
A book “Civil Society Establishment in Independent Belarus” has been presented in Minsk.
This is the third book of the sociologist, IISEPS founder, Professor Aleh Manaeu. Sociological research covers the time period since 2006 till 2010 this time.
“Frankly speaking, I spent a lot of time last year thinking whether it was worth it to publish the third book. As, when the basic problems of the Belarusian civil society remain the same, such books turn into a chronicle of current events, and chronicles of current events are much better presented in the independent media. Is it worth it to analyze one and the same things? However, I decided it was worth it, as life goes on even in Belarus”, — Professor Manaeu has said, starting the presentation.
According to Manaeu, the balance of supporters and opponents of the current President remained the same within these years.
Manaeu: “However, when he leaned on the lower electoral masses - on the poor and the weak - before 2001, after 2001 he started leaning on the so-called new bourgeousie - on the Belarusian nomenclature, force structures and big business”.
As for struggle for the youth, the authorities are winning over the opposition so far.
“The authorities made serious conclusions after the wild events of the 90s and started implementation of the policy aimed at adaptation of the youth to the environment's values… Thus, the main part of the youth should not be considered as a motor for changes in the Belarusian society”.
Apart from analysis of the civil society's development for the last 5 years, the new book summarizes the results of the IISEPS work for twenty years. “IISEPS destiny is a reflection of what is happening to the civil society in Belarus on the whole”, —Manaeu has noted.
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