Discontent, Opposition and Civil Society Flashcards
What is political culture and how does political culture shape participation in post-Soviet states?
Political culture refers to the distribution of values, beliefs, and feelings about politics within a society.
In post-Soviet states, Soviet authoritarianism shaped a political culture that included communist values, censorship, and a lack of interest in political participation. People were more obedient to the government, which made it hard for them to engage in politics. However, the gap between what the regime claimed and how people actually acted allowed alternative values to survive, especially as younger generations began to want more democratic changes.
What were the key factor that led to the Color Revolutions?
The Color Revolutions, which took place between 2003 and 2005, were sparked by electoral fraud in post-communist states, where citizens had strong grievances against undemocratic regimes. The revolutions were largely peaceful and aimed at ousting authoritarian leaders, often due to widespread dissatisfaction with electoral fraud and the absence of institutional mechanisms to resolve political conflicts.
Describe the Bulldozer Elections in Serbia 2000
Why it happened: Widespread dissatisfaction with the authoritarian rule of Slobodan Milošević, who rigged the 2000 elections.
How it happened: Mass protests, largely led by youth movements and opposition parties, used nonviolent tactics. The turning point was the symbolic act of opposition leaders entering government buildings, and the eventual withdrawal of Milošević’s forces.
Outcome: Milošević was forced to resign, and Serbia transitioned toward a more democratic system. This revolution inspired other post-Soviet countries to challenge authoritarian leaders.
Explain the Rose Revolution in Georgia in 2003
Why it happened: Frustration with the corrupt leadership and rigged elections.
How it happened: Peaceful protests in the streets, led by opposition leaders and supported by a broad public, after the 2003 parliamentary elections. Demonstrators peacefully occupied government buildings, forcing Shevardnadze to step down.
Outcome: Shevardnadze resigned, and Mikheil Saakashvili became president. Georgia moved toward greater democratic reforms, although challenges remained in governance and corruption.
Explain the Orange Revolution in Ukraine (2004)
Why it happened: Rigged presidential election in 2004, where Pro Russian Yanukovych was declared the winner despite evidence of electoral fraud.
How it happened: Massive, peaceful protests erupted across Ukraine, especially in Kyiv. Opposition Pro-EU leader Viktor Yushchenko and his supporters demanded fair elections. The Supreme Court annulled the fraudulent results, and a re-run of the election was held.
Outcome: Yushchenko won the presidency, and Ukraine made strides toward democratic reforms, though the political divide between the pro-Western west and pro-Russian east persisted, leading to later instability
Explain the Revolution of Dignity or the Euromaiden protests in Ukraine in 2013-2014
It was sparked by the decision by Pres. Yanukovich to reject EU ties in favour of Russia angered many Ukrainians who wanted to move closer to Europe and embrace democratic reforms.
Reasons:
Yanukovych’s pro-Russian policies angered citizens who wanted closer integration with the EU.
Corruption and the perception that Yanukovych’s government was increasingly authoritarian.
Demands
Closer integration with EU, resignation of pres, end to corruption, early pres elections, more liberal rights, etc
How it happened:
Mass protests began in November 2013 in Kyiv’s Maidan Square.
The protests grew larger after the government violently cracked down on peaceful demonstrators in January 2014.
After months of demonstrations and escalating violence, Yanukovych fled Ukraine in February 2014, marking the end of his presidency.
Outcome:
Yanukovych was removed from power, and a new interim government was established.
Ukraine shifted towards a pro-European stance, though the aftermath included instability and Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine.
Why was the Orange Revolution (2004) relatively non-violent, while the Revolution of Dignity (2013-2014) involved more violence?
The Orange Revolution had minimal violence because there were institutional channels for resolving the issue, such as the Supreme Court, and the president, Leonid Kuchma, was more willing to compromise.
In contrast, the Revolution of Dignity had multiple demands and no institutional channels to address them. President Yanukovych refused to compromise, leading to more violence and repression from the police, including beatings and water cannons, as the protests grew.
What is the collective action problem, and why might groups struggle to act together?
The collective action problem happens when a group would benefit from acting together, but people don’t participate because they feel their individual effort won’t make a difference.
How can major electoral fraud help solve the collective action problem?
Major electoral fraud creates a sense of urgency because it must be challenged before the fraudulent winner takes office. This urgency encourages people to act together. It also attracts international attention, which makes violent government crackdowns less likely.
Why do elections provide a unique opportunity to solve the collective action problem?
Elections focus attention on a clear issue within a short time frame, and international scrutiny reduces the risk of government violence against protests, encouraging collective action.
Kyrgyzstan Tulip Revolution (2005)
Triggeredby fraudulent parliamentary elections in February 2005, which many believed were rigged to favor the ruling party.
- Largely peaceful (large scale demos)
- No government repression
- Akayev fled and new interim government
