The Ukrainian Orange Revolution brought more than a new president: What kind of democracy will the institutional changes bring?

Abstract

The authors discuss the institutional changes proposed in Ukraine’s constitutional framework and election laws that could fundamentally alter the separation of powers and the responsiveness of Ukrainian government to the electorate. We analyze the proposed institutional changes from the perspective of what they portend for Ukraine’s democratic transition. Building on the most recent vein of democratization studies examining institutional factors affecting democratic stability, we emphasize that it cannot be assumed that Ukraine is ‘‘in transition to democracy.’’ We conclude that comprehending the likelihood of achieving democratic stability must be contextualized in an understanding of intervening factors— political, economic, and historical—that ultimately influence democratic stability. Our analysis reminds government reform advocates that it is necessary to go beyond the basic institutional framework of proposed governmental changes in order to obtain a more comprehensive picture of democratization.