The world is full of dictators as is evident in many of the regimes seen throughout the span of the globe. However, most dictators hold their positions in the global south which encompasses the often-unstable regions of the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia as well as Central and South America. Thus, Europe’s last dictator, Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko, is an outlier to be reckoned with.
President Lukashenko has been President since the position of President was established in 1994 after the dissolution of the Soviet States. In that time span, Lukashenko has ruled tirelessly with a totalitarian ideology, tampering with votes to rig elections, and quashing any dissent pointed in his direction. He has allied himself with Russian President and fellow dictator Vladimir Putin, only further expanding their influence in the region (Information on Belarusian President Lukashenko).
Most recently in 2021, protests nationwide in Belarus have erupted as the people have grown tired of the authoritarian rule which has prompted worldwide media coverage in many nations. This is calling attention to the unacceptable condition Belarus is now in (Lukashenko clings to power; protests erupt).
The dictatorship of Lukashenko is a terrible thing for a multitude of reasons, but the main reason is because tyranny is infectious; having that dictatorship within the boundaries of Europe, a more significant part of the world that is essential towards peace and stability in the global arena, is a dangerous predicament, as throughout history it can be observed that small events can trigger something much larger. In this case, the presence of Lukashenko could trigger more authoritarians to rise in Europe and disregard humans rights (Lukashenko Violating Human Rights, Rigging Elections and Being Unapologetic About It).
That is why the United States and its allies in Europe should be more involved in dismantling the rule of Lukashenko and his totalitarian regime. Of course, that is easier said than done, but there are avenues in which such an objective would be possible in being successful.
Utilizing the intelligence agencies of various nations and the collaboration of parties within the Belarusian government, a covert operation with the aim of dismantling the regime would be poised to complete that goal. It goes without saying but such an operation could not be public knowledge; nevertheless, the West would eliminate the final dictator in Europe and weaken Putin’s ties within Europe, an accomplishment that would work greatly in conjunction with the end of gaining an upper hand in the global geopolitical arena. Furthermore, the ousting of Lukashenko could trigger an uprising in Russia as the Russian citizenry witnesses that ridding themselves of their dictator is also a possibility, which would open so many doors for the U.S. to implement a policy that will cement an advantageous position in the region for decades to come. This also has a history of occurring, as seen in the now famous period known as the “Arab Spring” within the Middle East. The U.S. and its allies would be right to look at this more attentively.
Works Cited
Chance, Matthew and Zahra Ullah. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko derides reports of abuse as ‘fake and fantasy’. 1 October 2021. Website. 1 October 2021.
Taylor, Guy. Alexander Lukashenko clings to power in Belarus. 9 December 2020. Website. 1 October 2021.
Teh, Cheryl. Who is Alexander Lukashenko? A closer look at the dictator who has maintained an iron grip on Belarus for over 2 decades. 3 August 2021. Website. 1 October 2021.
Belarus is bringing the heat. Whenever people discuss dictatorships in Europe, the only name I hear is Putin, but I’m intrigued by your blog to learn more about other dictators in Europe wither working alongside, against, or independent from Putin. As Americans, we can’t sympathize with the citizens of dictator-led countries, but I do believe that based on our own principles of democracy, we have an obligation to assist them at some point. Right now, with the various other problems our country faces, I think it’s best to disengage from the situation until we are definitive proof of living in a democracy. What other countries come to mind that you believe have the obligation to assist Belarus emerge from their current political crisis? Here is a link to an article detailing a scandal of stealing ammunition sent to Belarus, just to learn about what the EU’s action are right now https://euobserver.com/world/153145.
To be honest, my only real exposure to this topic prior to reading your blog post is from a recent episode of Last Week Tonight covering Lukashenko. While I understand the plight of living under a dictatorship with rigged elections, I wonder whether or not we have the moral high ground from which to perform the “covert operation” you described. Our government has a history of engaging in similar operations to change regimes in other countries (especially in South America), but should we? It is more understandable when the leader we overthrow was not truly democratically elected though, as it does not contradict our fundamental belief as a nation. This article describes the efforts of other candidates to force their democracy into action against Lukashenko’s will, although it definitely appears as though something needs to change in order to rid the Belarusian elections of fraud. https://www.politico.eu/article/belarus-alexander-lukashenko-election-svetlana-tikhanovskaya-dissidents/
I had no idea that Belarus had a dictator, but now I understand the situation more from your blog post. What specifically has allowed Lukashenko to continue ruling? And how have his actions impacted the citizens of Belarus? I enjoy reading your blogs, because they offer perspectives I had never thought about. Great work!