ukraine: the orange revolution

The impacts of Ukraine’s political crisis are felt in east-central Europe, Russia, the European Union, and the United States. openDemocracy writers assess its significance.
Wednesday 20th April

Ukraine: a crisis of self-identity

David Marples, 20 April 2011
Ukrainian identity has historically been defined in opposition to Russia, but an anti-Russian agenda is unable to bind together a state with a large ethnic Russian population. With the Yanukovych administration now taking a neo-Stalinist approach to history and education, airbrushing out nationalist heritage, David Marples asks: where does Ukraine go from here?
Wednesday 17th November

The struggle after people power wins

Olena Tregub and Oksana Shulyar, 17 November 2010
With peaceful but forceful civic mobilization in 2004, Ukrainians managed to reverse a rigged presidential election. Later, disappointed in politicians who failed to deliver on promises of political and economic change, many Ukrainians distanced themselves from politics, thereby helping Victor Yanukovych become president in 2010. Civil society moved its residual activism from political to social problems, which could strengthen civil society as it prepares to counter democratic backsliding.
Monday 15th November

Civil Resistance and the New Global Ferment: read on

15 November 2010
Wednesday 5th May

Rescuing Ukraine from NATO

Anna Babinets, 5 May 2010
President Yanukovich sees it as his mission to protect the country from NATO. That’s why he extended that lease allowing Russia’s fleet to stay in Crimea. For as long as the fleet stays in Ukraine, the country cannot join NATO
Wednesday 28th April

Russia's fleet in Crimea: what's the real deal?

Maria Starozhitskaya, 28 April 2010
President Yanukovich’s unexpected extension of the lease on Russia’s fleet in Crimea has Ukraine in an uproar. No one knows the full extent of that agreement. It was clearly not just about cheap Russian gas
Tuesday 23rd March

The Prorizna Street rebellion

Alexander Motyl, 23 March 2010
A spirited protest in central Kyiv embodies the ethos of a new, civic Ukraine whose people - despite their politicians - have internalised the values of the “orange revolution”. Alexander J Motyl reports for openDemocracy
Friday 5th March

Partition Ukraine? I think not

Adrian Karatnycky, 5 March 2010
It is irresponsible to fan the flames of partition as Ethan Burger does in his openDemocracy article ”Could partition solve Ukraine’s problem?” Neither the facts nor opinion polls support such wild speculation, says Adrian Karatnycky
Friday 19th February

Could partition solve Ukraine’s problems?

Ethan S. Burger, 19 February 2010
In the light of Ukraine’s election result, Ethan S. Burger offers a proposal for the creation of a new Ukrainian state. Partition would do more than better reflect the country’s national/ethnic composition, he suggests. It could also make the country economically viable, while enhancing European stability.
Tuesday 7th October

Ukraine: beyond the orange coalition

Taras Kuzio, 7 October 2008
A larger Europe-Russia crisis lights the fuse of Kyiv's bitter political rivalries (archive)
Monday 1st October

How Ukrainians became citizens

Alexander Motyl, 1 October 2007
The "orange revolution's" real change was within (archive)
Tuesday 17th July

"Virtual politics" in the ex-Soviet bloc

Andrew Wilson, 17 July 2007

Russia's domestic political manipulation is more radical, pervasive and corrosive of real democracy than anything attempted in the west

Monday 30th April

Ukraine's crisis of governance

Andrew Wilson, 30 April 2007
A fresh compromise may salve the major political faultlines in the troubled Ukrainian polity. But the depth of the country’s institutional, regional, and personal divisions make repair far harder, says Andrew Wilson.
Friday 22nd December

Two years after the Orange revolution: Ukraine in a funk

Alexander Motyl, 22 December 2006
The romance of revolution is long gone as Ukrainians learn to cope with democracy's disillusions, says Alexander J Motyl.
Wednesday 16th August

Ukraine and Russia: divergent political paths

Alexander Motyl, 16 August 2006
Ukraine is in post-orange political meltdown while Russia is reinventing itself as a successful energy superpower. Right? Wrong, says Alexander J Motyl, who looks beneath the surface of a changing relationship.
Monday 3rd April

Ukraine's inspiring boredom

Patrice de Beer, 3 April 2006
The sheer normality of Ukraine’s election indicates how profound its post-orange political transition has been, finds Patrice de Beer.
Monday 27th March

Ukraine: free elections, kamikaze president

Taras Kuzio, 27 March 2006
An "orange coalition" is still the most likely outcome of a Ukrainian election won by the revolution’s opponent, says Taras Kuzio.
Friday 24th March

Ukraine's new political complexion

Alexander Motyl, 24 March 2006
Whatever the result of the 26 March parliamentary elections, Ukraine after the orange revolution is moving towards normal democratic politics not back to authoritarianism, says Alexander J Motyl.

Ukraine's post-orange evolution: Askold Krushelnycky interviewed

Toby Saul, 24 March 2006
After fifteen turbulent months of a hard-won democracy, Ukraine's people are again calling their leaders to account. Askold Krushelnycky talks to Toby Saul about how far the orange revolution's ideals have survived.

On 26 March 2006, Ukrainians vote in parliamentary elections which may see Viktor Yanukovych regain a significant share of the vote for his Party of Regions after being swept out of power in the orange revolution of November 2004-January 2005.

Tuesday 17th January

Ukraine vs Russia: the politics of an energy crisis

Alexander Motyl, 17 January 2006
The bitter gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine reveals the stark difference in the character of the two states. The European Union should take note, says Alexander Motyl.
Wednesday 19th October

Russia's post-orange empire

Ivan Krastev, 19 October 2005
Ukraine's orange revolution was Russia's 9/11, and its result is to convince Moscow that the European Union is its major strategic rival, argues Ivan Krastev.
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