Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the West and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. The capital is Minsk, with other major cities including Brest, Grodno, Gomel, Mogilev and Vitebsk. The country covers 207,000 sq km, of which 40 percent is forested. Agriculture and manufacturing make up its two most important economic sectors.
Before the twentieth century, Belarus belonged to several countries—the principality of Polotsk, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Russian Empire and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Following the Russian Revolution, Belarus became one of the founding republics of the Soviet Union and was known as the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1939, the land, which had been part of the Second Polish Republic, was united with the Belorussian SSR (Soviet Socialist Republic) as a result of the Soviet invasions of Poland. Belarus lost close to a third of its population and more than half of its economic resources during World War Two, but the impact of the war occasioned its founder membership of the United Nations, along with the Soviet Union and the Ukrainian SSR.
Sovereignty was declared in Belarus on July 27 1990, and independence one year later after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The country’s president, elected in 1994, was Alexander Lukashenko, who implemented Soviet-era policies such as state ownership of the economy. In 2000, Belarus and Russia signed a treaty for greater cooperation.
The population of nearly 10 million live mostly in the urban areas around Minsk and the regional capitals, and are more than 80 percent native Belarusians. There are also sizeable numbers of Russians, Poles and Ukrainians, and the country has two official languages—Belarusian and Russian.
The origin of the name Belarus is not certain. It derives from the term “White Russia” (White Rus), and could refer to its snow-covered mountains or to the white clothing worn by the Slavs. During the time of the Russian Empire it was named Belorussia and was viewed as a part of the Russian nation, with its language as a dialect of Russian. It took its current name in 1991.
The region now known as Belarus was first settled by Slavic tribes in the sixth century. Bands of Scandinavian warriors and traders, called Varangians, came into contact with the tribes and, following a brief exile, were invited to return. The state of Kievan Rus was formed around A.D. 862.
Belarus has strained relations with the U.S., which supports various anti-Lukashenko NGOs. Belarus in turn made it harder for U.S.-based organizations to operate within the country. Nevertheless, there is cooperation on intellectual property protection, prevention of human trafficking and technology crime, and disaster relief.
Belarus belongs to the Eurasian Economic Community, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The economy of Belarus remains, by and large, “Soviet-style” and state-controlled. Over 50 percent of the workforce of more than 4 million is employed by state-controlled companies, with 48 percent working for private Belarusian companies. Employment is high in agriculture, manufacturing sales, trading goods and education. Textile and wood-processing industries are both of historical importance. Russia is Belarus’s largest trading partner, accounting for nearly half of total trade. It also has trade agreements with several EU member states.
The two official languages of Belarus are Russian and Belarusian. Russian is the main language, spoken by 72 percent of the population; Belarusian, the second official language, is used by under 12 percent.
Minority languages include Polish, Ukrainian and Eastern Yiddish.
Although Belarus has been conquered many times, it has never been a conqueror. Over the centuries, Belarusians have changed their faith, and accepted foreign cultures and languages to fit in with other races. However, in spite of everything, Belarus did not lose its national identity. They exhibit tolerance and the ability to understand the mentality of other cultures.
Racially, the Belarusians are closely linked with the Russians, and their language is similar to Russian, as are their values. As they did not become a republic of the Soviet Union until 1922 and split from Russia on the demise of the Soviet Union in 1990, there are cultural and experiential differences as well as similarities. They also share some Polish characteristics, such as obstinacy, self-sacrifice, romantic nationalism, stoicism, touchiness and sensitivity to criticism. They think of themselves as more sophisticated than Russians and also more politically mature. Their borders with EU countries make them feel more European, and several European countries have encouraged this sentiment.
Belarusians are Eastern Slavs but consider themselves European Slavs, being at the heart of Europe. They regard themselves as sophisticated vis-à-vis Russians.
| tolerant | willing to sacrifice |
| patient | intellectual |
| hard-working | well-educated |
| peace-loving | tenacious |
Belarus has no official religion, but Belarusian Orthodox is the dominant religion in Belarus, followed by different denominations of Protestantism. Roman Catholics (about 10 percent) consist of a mixture of Belarusians and the country’s Polish and Lithuanian minorities.
Belarusians appreciate their high level of education. Well-educated people with doctors’ degrees and so on have considerable status, as have well-known artists, musicians and literary figures. Family, stability, prosperity and good friends are valued. Elderly people are generally more respected than younger ones.
In a dictatorship, most managerial decisions have a political background or motive. The stultifying influence of Soviet bureaucracy and inefficiency has not been completely eradicated from the Belarusian business scene. Leadership, even when non-political, is of the old-fashioned autocratic kind, power distance is steadfastly maintained, consensus is rarely sought enthusiastically and female leaders are few.
Women are playing important roles in business and politics. Women in the large villages in rural areas still pursue traditional values of motherhood and home-making.
The country is not very densely populated (50 per sq km). The Belarusians are fairly tactile people, especially with children, though less than Latins. They can talk at close range. Men keep a respectful distance from women in public.
Belarusians, unlike Russians, are punctual, accustomed to a clear time-frame, although important officials may keep you waiting longer than you like. There is a general lack of sense of urgency for getting things done. People move cautiously.
In a period of history that included the break-up of the Soviet Union, Belarus’s exit from it, and subsequent internal political dissension and dictatorship, Belarusians are cautious interlocutors who wish to seek solid personal relationships before “baring their soul.” Conversations and negotiations are consequently preceded by long preambles, perhaps also socializing, before getting down to brass tacks. They watch the behavior of the head of delegation. They also like to follow the etiquette of the host and any previously agreed scenario. Even then, proposals may be well guarded, with high context inferences along the way. In later stages of discussion, agendas may be thrown to the wind and many people may talk over each other. Belarusians frequently prefer the “real deal” to be concluded in a private setting, but are always ready to celebrate the successful completion of a transaction informally.
Listening is mainly passive, but opinions may be voiced once a certain amount of trust has entered into the relationship. Life is somewhat bleak for many Belarusians, who listen sympathetically to others’ problems but are not quick to offer remedies or solutions.
Belarusians are fairly voluble and express their opinions quite confidently, feeling somewhat “Western” when they do this. They maintain liveliness for long periods and are rather direct in letting yon know how they feel. There is a higher degree of individualism among western Belarusians. Those in the east part of the country tend to favor collectivist verdicts. They seek consensus and can talk at great length, which may disconcert nationalities such as Americans, Finns and Norwegians.
When negotiating they avoid going out on a limb and seek refuge in a collective approach. There is little urgency in their negotiating style. Emotion is occasionally permitted but they are reluctant to abandon factuality for long. Interlocutors must be patient in their dealings with them.
“Sardechna zaprashayem!” is the traditional expression used when welcoming guests, who are usually presented with bread and salt. Shaking hands is the common form of greeting. Hospitality is part of the Belarusian tradition; people are welcoming and friendly; and gifts are given to friends and business associates.
The traditional two-piece dress is still worn today on special occasions. Clothes were made from flax or wool to cope with the cold climate, and decorated with intricate patterns influenced by those of neighboring cultures. Each region has its own particular designs. The Belarusian national flag, adopted in 1995, uses an ornate pattern which appeared on early clothing.
Literature in Belarus dates back to the eleventh–thirteenth centuries and religious writings. The Bible translated into Belarusian by Francysk Skaryna, published some time in the early 1500s, was the first book to be printed in Eastern Europe. Skaryna developed the Belarusian language and was one of the first to print in the Cyrillic alphabet.
Modern literature can be dated to the late 1800s, with the writer Yanka Kupala. Other writers of the time include Vladimir Zylka, Kazimir Svayak, Yakub Kolas, Zmitrok Biadula and Maksim Haretski, who wrote for a Belarusian-language paper, Nasha Niva.
Once Belarus had been subsumed into the Soviet Union, the Soviet government took control of the Republic’s cultural affairs. Literature was only able to develop unhindered in Polish-held territory until Soviet occupation in 1939. Many writers went into exile after the Nazi occupation of Belarus, and did not return until the 1960s, when there was a revival of literature with novels by Vasil Bykau and Uladzimir Karatkievich.
Relations are established over a dinner table and with alcohol. When you chat with them, remember that they believe rumors and gossip more than official attitudes or statements. They usually need help in drawing up business plans. They are not always clear about such terms as democracy, pluralism, accountability, turnover and profit. Guide them gently in business discussions when they seem out of their depth.
You should demonstrate friendliness and open-heartedness to secure their trust. If you want to do business with them, show willingness to build up long-term relations and be ready to make concessions. They often invite business partners to their home. Take simple gifts and be friendly.
| MOTIVATION | |
| KEY | Recognizing where they differ from Russians |
| Cross-century mood |
• Consolidation of their separate identiry vis-à-vis Russia and the Ukraine.
• Looking for a durable style of government.
• Trying to be as “European” as possible.
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| Motivating Factors
• Acknowledge their “Europeanness”.
• Praise their country and its history and culture.
• Praise their educational standards.
• Praise their artistry and aesthetic achievements.
• Be well-mannered at all times, especially with older people.
• Accept their sense of nationalism.
• Respect the fact that they hold moral values above those of material wealth.
• Be humorous and drink with them when you can.
• Do not take sides too irrevocably—if you share their opinion, show it. If not, just listen.
Avoid • Criticism of things Belarusian.
• Talking politics and criticizing the existing system.
• Impinging on anyone’s rights.
• Patronizing them.
• Assuming that they are identical to Russians.
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