Comparing 2004 and 2014 Revolutions in Ukraine: Internal Factors and External Players

Mgr. Ruslan Matsiievskyi

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The thesis deals with the comparison of the two most significant events in Ukraine’s history: the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the EuroMaidan Revolution in 2014. Based on the theoretical concept of colour revolution the work aims to compare the nature, preconditions, main reasons and consequences of the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the EuroMaidan Revolution in 2013-2014. The research focuses on two main parts of the thesis. The first one is the analysis of internal factors, which refers to those that had their impact on both the process, build up and the result of the 2004 and 2014 revolutions. These are: cause, mass mobilization, reaction of the authorities, participants, ruling elite, opposition elite, charismatic competitor, duration, solution, and post-crisis situation. The second part of the research is the examination of the main external player’s role, behavior and influence towards the both revolutionary process and crisis resolution in 2004 and 2014 mainly from the US, EU, and Russia. Finally, by using the attributes of revolution the thesis advances the argument that the so-called Orange revolution does not include all the necessary features of revolution while the 2014 crisis proves to be interpreted as a political revolution. Concerning methodology, the research is based on the comparative approach which focuses on two case studies – the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the EuroMaidan Revolution in 2014.

Keywords

revolution, colour revolution, EuroMaidan, Orange Revolution, Ukraine, political crisis

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 9. 5. 2016

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 1. 6. 2016
• Supervisor: PhDr. Pavel Pšeja, Ph.D.
• Reader: Mgr. Petra Kuchyňková, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Master programme / field:
Political Science / European Politics (Eng.)