Знешнепалітычная гісторыя Беларусі (канец XVIII - пачатак XXI ст.): спроба сінтэтычнага агляду

Abstract

The article presents an integrated review of the foreign policy of Belarus from the end of 18th century to the beginning of the 21 st. The author breaks the span of time analyzed into 3 periods. The first one includes the period when Belarus was a part of the Russian Empire (the end of the 18th century —1917). The second period is the foreign political activity of the Belarusian People's Republic and of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic as the newly proclaimed states. The third period starts with the collapse of the USSR and is going on at present. It is determined by the emergence of the foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus as a new independent state. While characterizing the above periods the author pays the main attention to the development of the Belarusian national movement and to historical forms of Belarusian statehood, to the evolution of the geopolitical and international status of Belarus, formation of the foundations of Belarusian foreign policy, its priorities in directions, forms, methods and concepts as well as to military and foreign policy of other states concerning Belarus. The author also dwells on other issues relevant to the international dimensions of the history of Belarus at the end of the 18th century—beginning of the 21st.