Review of the article. Full version available in the Belarusian part of the journal:
The author of this article is a chairman of the Belarusian Association of Medical Specialists and a renowned activist of some Belarusian NGOs which makes his analysis of the situation with the freedom of association in Belarus especially profound and non-standard. This text comprises of thorough introduction of the notion and structure of the political system, description of the ideal model of associations influence within a democratic society and ends up with a detailed deconstruction of the role of associations within Belarusian political system. Finally, an attempt is made to identify possible channels to influence political decision-making in Belarus through associations of citizens. The peculiarity of this article is a combination of classical western doctrines on the role of associations with the projection on the nowadays Belarusian traits in the state system.
____________________________
Andrej Vituška – chairman of the Association of Belarusian Medical Specialists (http://medicus.iatp.by), co-editor of the journal „Daminika“, holds master degree in political science (European Humanities University), doctor of the resuscitation unit for new-born children of Miensk City Clinical Hospital, 7. The interests in political science cover the role and mechanisms of NGOs functioning, the influence of the associations of citizens on political decision-making.