Democratization in the Post-Soviet Space: A Case Study of The Republic of Georgia and Ukraine

Abstract

In the early 21st century, public unrest grew in the post-Soviet spaces with many demanding better democracy for themselves. This period, known as the Color Revolutions, swept across the Post-Soviet space with democratic and anti-corruption reforms at the forefront of policy. Yet, almost two decades later, democratic consolidation has crawled to a standstill amongst the region with many states experiencing democratic backsliding. The Republic of Georgia and Ukraine represent an interesting paradox as both states seemed to have beat the impossible and have continued their journey of democracy despite the current atmosphere in the region. Through a controlled comparative study, I find that these cases hold the key to the question of why there is a disparity of democratization amongst the region and who may be responsible for said disparity