IISEPS News, N 4 (14), 1999
Content:
Preface
Building an Information and Analytical Infrastructure for Private Enterprise:
Dr. G. Drakokhrust, IISEPS
Belarusian Associations of Entrepreneurs and Employers: a Comparative Analysis of Program Documents
V. Kopin, United Committee of the trade union of entrepreneurs “Sadruzhnast”
The Legislative Regulation of Entrepreneurship in Belarus in the Period from July 1994 to September 1999
N. Baklanov, Vitebsk Gorpromtorg company
Information and Analytical Centers in the System of BUEE Activities: a Look from Vitebsk
Dr. N. Efimova, IISEPS
Private Enterprise In Belarus: a Virtual Reality
Life in Our Time:
Some results of a national public opinion poll, conducted in November 1999
Open Forum:
Prof. S. Bogdankevich, Chairman of the Belarusian United Civil Party
Let’s Consolidate and Coordinate Our Efforts: from Totalitarianism to Liberalism and Democracy
Bookshelf:
Prof. O. Manaev, IISEPS
“Think Tanks in Central and Eastern Europe: a Comprehensive Directory”
Dr. L. Zaiko, “Strategy” Analytical Center
“Youth and Civil Society: a Belarusian Variant”
Dr. Yu. Drakokhrust, IISEPS
“The National and State Interests of the Republic of Belarus”
Preface:
Dear readers!
This issue of the IISEPS quarterly bulletin contains materials that reflect the most interesting results of analysis and research conducted in the fourth quarter of 1999.
First, we present abridged versions of the papers prepared on the results of analysis of the legal base for private enterprise in the Republic of Belarus, as well as analysis of programs of the country’s leading entrepreneurs’ associations, and content analysis of Belarusian media coverage of private enterprise. Those procedures were undertaken within the framework of the project “The Building an Information and Analytical Infrastructure for Private Enterprise in Belarus,” which is being implemented by the IISEPS in cooperation with the Belarusian Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers in the name of M.S. Kunyavsky with support from the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). An infrastructure of that kind has been formed on the basis of the BUEE with support form the IISEPS in the form of a network of informational and analytical groups in all of the country’s regions, which form their own data bases and publish quarterly bulletins on issues of the development of private enterprise. Each group has already published two bulletins with the aggregated circulation of about 3,500 copies.
Second, you can read informational and analytical materials based on the results of the most recent (thirteenth) national survey, conducted within the framework of the above mentioned project. As usually, the survey dealt with a broad range of issues of the country’s social, economic and political development.
Third, we continue to publish empirical information without any comment. This part is composed of two blocs. The first one includes answers to the most important questions on public life, which are grouped on the basis of social and demographic characteristics of the respondents. The other bloc deals with the trends in public opinions over the period of the last few years. Politicians, journalists, entrepreneurs and our colleagues, analysts, will be able to use the data to their own ends.
The section “Open Forum” contains an article by Professor Stanislav Bogdankevich, who discusses the issues of cooperation between political structures and civil society structures, including think tanks, aimed at strengthening national sovereignty, promoting democracy, market economy and a rule of law. The author’s experience in public politics combined with his experience as professional economist makes his analysis original and persuasive, in our opinion.
The final section “Bookshelf” deals with the latest books published by the leading Belarusian independent analytical centers (finally the time has come to publish real books rather than just analytical papers and bulletins!), and an international directory on think tanks in Central and Eastern Europe, in which, finally, Belarus is also represented.
As usually, we strongly encourage all kinds of responses, criticism and comments.
IISEPS Board