In Poland’s case, becoming a true democracy led to membership in the EU and in NATO. In Belarus’s case, it likely means neither. I certainly hope it doesn’t mean NATO membership, as that alliance has already gone way too far to the East. Belarus is a founding member of the Eurasian Union, and its democratization may give some hope that it can turn into something better than a union of autocrats. It is hard to see that it will ever be a new Soviet Union, but it might yet be a useful economic alliance of democratic states that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. As Ukraine has found to its sorrow, the EU really isn’t welcoming to Eastern Slavs. A truly democratic Belarus could serve as an inspiration to Russia and the other countries in the Eurasian Union that still have autocrats as leaders. Perhaps Putin’s rule in Russia may end a lot earlier than some of the so-called experts think. I hope that’s not just wishful thinking on my part.
In Poland’s case, becoming a true democracy led to membership in the EU and in NATO. In Belarus’s case, it likely means neither. I certainly hope it doesn’t mean NATO membership, as that alliance has already gone way too far to the East. Belarus is a founding member of the Eurasian Union, and its democratization may give some hope that it can turn into something better than a union of autocrats. It is hard to see that it will ever be a new Soviet Union, but it might yet be a useful economic alliance of democratic states that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. As Ukraine has found to its sorrow, the EU really isn’t welcoming to Eastern Slavs. A truly democratic Belarus could serve as an inspiration to Russia and the other countries in the Eurasian Union that still have autocrats as leaders. Perhaps Putin’s rule in Russia may end a lot earlier than some of the so-called experts think. I hope that’s not just wishful thinking on my part.