Belarusian Elites: The Potential for Political Change

On April 22 (Thursday), there will be a presentation of the results of the research project “Belarusian Elites: The Potential for Political Change”, implemented jointly by the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies (BISS) and the Political Sphere Institute in 2009-2010.

Understanding the country’s political elite is important for assessing the possibility of change, continuity of power, the level of political consolidation and stability, as well as a shared vision of domestic and foreign policy.

At present, reliable criteria for identifying the Belarusian political elite have not been developed; therefore, the analysis was based on the formal structure.

The study examined the composition of the Government, the Presidential Administration, Parliament, the directors’ corps, regional executive structures, and several others.

The empirical basis consisted of biographical data on more than 500 Belarusian officials and politicians: career trajectory, status, education, age, and other characteristics.

The study made it possible to identify indicative trends in elite circulation, as well as to record some informal rules of the organization of power in Belarus.

The presentation will take place in the Princess II hall of the Crowne Plaza hotel (Minsk, 13 Kirova St.).

Beginning at 18:30.

All interested persons are invited.

For additional information, please contact [email protected] (../2009/12/16-snezhnya-2009-krytyka-belaruskaj-palitychnaj-analityki-ch-2/[email protected]).