1st Edition

The Colour Revolutions in the Former Soviet Republics Successes and Failures

Edited By Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Abel Polese Copyright 2010
    254 Pages 1 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    272 Pages 1 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    During the first decade of the 21st century, a remarkable phenomenon swept through the former Soviet Union changing the political, social and cultural landscape. Popularly known as the ‘Colour Revolutions’, these non-violent protests overthrew autocratic regimes in three post-soviet republics: the Georgian Rose Revolution (2003), the Ukrainian Orange Revolution (2004) and the Kyrgyzstani Tulip Revolution (2005). This book examines the significance of these regime-change processes for the post-soviet world in particular and for global politics in the 21st century.

    Engaging comprehensively with the former Soviet republics, the contributors to this book ask why there wasn’t a revolution in a post-Soviet republic such as Russia, despite apparently favourable conditions. They also explore the circumstances that ensured some post-soviet countries underwent a successful colour revolution whilst others did not. Identifying the conditions for successful colour revolutions, this book asks whether there is a revolutionary blueprint that may be exported to other areas around the world that are under autocratic rule. Carefully considering the ideologies of the post-Soviet ruling regimes, this book demonstrates the manner by which political elites integrated nationalism, authoritarianism and populism into public debates. It analyzes the diverse anti-regime movements, discussing the factors that led to the rise of such factions and outlining how these opposition groups were constituted and operated. In addition, it assesses the impact of external forces including the influence of the USA, the EU and Russia. By examining the colour revolution phenomenon in its entirety, this book marks a significant contribution to both our micro and macro understanding of this tide of transformation.

    Introduction: whats in a colour? – Donnacha Ó Beacháin and Abel Polese,  Part I - The spreading of colour revolutions: achievements and limits, Georgia - Francoise Companjen,  Ukraine - Nathaniel Copsey,  Kyrgyzstan – David Lewis,  Moldova – Ryan Patrick Kennedy,  Armenia - Mikayel Zolyan,  Azerbaijan - Vicken Cheterian,  Part II – Antidotes for the coloured virus: the regimes strike back,  Belarus – Ustina Marcus,  Russia – Thomas Ambrosio,  Uzbekistan – Matteo Fumagalli and Simon Tordjman,  Tajikistan – Robert Kevlihan and Amri Sherzamonov,  Kazakhstan – Rico Isaacs,  Turkmenistan - Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Conclusion - Donnacha Ó Beacháin and Abel Polese.

    Biography

    Donnacha Ó Beacháin is a lecturer and Marie Curie Fellow at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University, Ireland. He was previously a Visiting Fellow with the Civic Education Project and Academic Fellowship Program in Georgia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

    Abel Polese is Marie Curie Fellow at the Institute of Geography, University of Edinburgh, UK. He was formerly Marie Curie Research Fellow at the Hannah Arendt Institute of Dresden and Civic Education Project Visiting Fellow to Ukraine.