External factors that influenced regime change in Ukraine

External factors that influenced regime change in Ukraine

Overview

1. General presentation of Ukraine's position in the international area before Revolution

2. Relevant external actors, structures during Revolution

3. Linkage to the West

4. External constraints

5. Summary

Ukraine's position in the international area before Revolution

Newly Independent State Considered as an extension of Russia Never a full – blown autocracy, semiautoritharism Less preferable than Russia 1994 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the

EU 1999 EU's Common Strategy The largest trade partner and foreign investor Black Sea region

External actors and their influence

The EU – financial support

Kremlin – financial support

Foreign NGO's (IRI, NDI, Freedom House, CVU, the Democratic Initiatives Foundation) – financial, social support

Russian Television (ORT, RTR, NTV)

Ties with “West” during Revolution

Western cooperation with Ukrainian organizations Znayu, Pora, KMIS – voter mobilization, exit polls

Financial support: 18 mln $ from the USA, 70 mln $ per year in 2004 – 2006 and 123 mln in 2007 – 2010 from the EU, donations from the US and Canadian citizens for Our Ukraine

Financial programms: TACIS, EDHIR, TEMPUS

External constraints

Potential membership in the EU

Relations with Russia

Geopolitical interests of the EU

Summary

Russia is still superior international partner for the West

Western powers didn't recognize Ukraine elites issue

Low Western linkage – weak democratizing pressure

Bibliography

Gawrich Andrea, 2010, Neighbourhood and Europeization

McFaul Michael, 2007, Ukraine

Solonenko, 2009, Extnernal Democracy Promotion

Youngs Richard, 2009, EU and Orange Revolution

Thank you for attention