Building Postsoviet State. Ukraine and Georgia on the Way to Democracy and (or) Stability? Cover Image

Budování postsovětského státu. Ukrajina a Gruzie na cestě k demokracii a (nebo) stabilitě?
Building Postsoviet State. Ukraine and Georgia on the Way to Democracy and (or) Stability?

Author(s): Vincent Kopeček, Jakub Kašpar
Subject(s): Government/Political systems, Comparative politics
Published by: Prešovská univerzita v Prešove, Filozofická fakulta, Inštitút politológie
Keywords: Ukraine;Georgia;hybrid regimes;competitive authoritarianism;patronal politics;

Summary/Abstract: The article analyses political transformations in Ukraine and Georgia after Orange and Rose Revolutions. Both countries are treated as hybrid regimes and the concept of competitive authoritarianism is used as the main framework for the comparison. Afterwards, diverging political paths of Ukraine and Georgia are interpreted by means of the theory of patronal politics. In the conclusion we argue that whereas Ukraine’s political liberalisation lead to political chaos, economic stagnation and, finally, to the autocratic backsliding, Georgia’s focus on reforms under relatively autocratic Saakashvili’s administration resulted in relatively stable and efficient institutional framework, which enabled political liberalisation of the country after 2012. The article analyses political transformations in Ukraine and Georgia after Orange and Rose Revolutions. Both countries are treated as hybrid regimes and the concept of competitive authoritarianism is used as the main framework for the comparison. Afterwards, diverging political paths of Ukraine and Georgia are interpreted by means of the theory of patronal politics. In the conclusion we argue that whereas Ukraine’s political liberalisation lead to political chaos, economic stagnation and, finally, to the autocratic backsliding, Georgia’s focus on reforms under relatively autocratic Saakashvili’s administration resulted in relatively stable and efficient institutional framework, which enabled political liberalisation of the country after 2012.

  • Issue Year: 5/2016
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 17-31
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Czech