Centenary of Belarusian Statehood: from Soviet Union Republic to Independent State

Abstract

The article analyzes the main stages of the Belarusian statehood development in the XX and at the beginning of the XXI centuries on the example of the Byelorussian SSR and the Republic of Belarus. These cases are considered primarily from the point of view of foreign policy and the international conditions of their establishment and development. The foreign policy of the BSSR is studied in the context of the creation, development and the collapse of the Soviet state through the prism of the comparative historical research methodology. It is applied for characterization and comparison of the foreign policy experience of the two union republics – the Belorussian SSR and the Ukrainian SSR. The general and specific features of their foreign policy activity are highlighted. The foreign policy experience of the establishment and development of the Republic of Belarus is characterized. The article gains its theoretical significance in presenting theoretical methodological approaches, assessments, attitudes and research paradigms formulated by the paradigms formulated in the Belarusian academic school of the foreign policy history of Belarus.