Ingmar Bredies Knihy

Reports from international governmental and non-governmental organizations on the 2004 presidential elections in Ukraine played a crucial role in the Orange Revolution, a popular uprising that sought to restore the country's democratic path initiated in 1991. The driving forces behind this movement included Ukrainian civil society, mass media, courts, and political parties. Additionally, the clear stance and influence of institutions such as the EU, PACE, NATO, and especially the OSCE were significant. The democratic movement was bolstered by the threat of international isolation that President Leonid Kuchma faced had he attempted to suppress the electoral process. This volume compiles some of the most discussed reports, featuring English translations of selected sections from three reports by the CIS International Observers Mission, which present differing evaluations from other organizations. It includes official reports from the International Republican Institute, the Tel Aviv Institute for the Countries of Eastern Europe and CIS, the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Contributions by Jevgen Shapoval and Roman Kupchinsky provide an introduction and conclusion to the collection.

The third volume of Aspects of the Orange Revolution enhances the previous collections by offering historical context and analytical perspectives on the events in Kyiv during late 2004. Featuring seven contributions from both established and emerging scholars, the essays explore a range of topics, including electoral statistics and musicology. Key questions addressed include: Why did blatant election fraud fail to provoke mass protests prior to 2004, yet ignite them that year? How did Viktor Yushchenko manage to secure enough votes to defeat establishment candidate Viktor Yanukovych and become president in a divided nation? What measures prevented large-scale violence, and what role did the judiciary play during the quasi-revolutionary events? The volume examines the legal foundations and court decisions that enabled the rerun of the presidential elections, as well as the campaign strategies employed by various domestic and foreign actors to mobilize the Ukrainian populace. Additionally, it investigates the impact of the internet and music on the mass protests that drew hundreds of thousands. The contributions from Erik S. Herron, Paul E. Johnson, Dominique Arel, and others provide a comprehensive view of the origins and dynamics that transformed Ukraine's political and civic landscape during this pivotal period.

The fourth volume of Aspects of the Orange Revolution continues exploring the influence of foreign actors on Ukrainian politics, blending scholarly analyses with first-hand accounts. It examines the events of 2004 through the voices of those involved, including both academic contributors and official observers of the presidential elections. Part One contrasts views on the roles of Russia and the West in shaping the Orange Revolution, assessing the adequacy of their interests and activities. Part Two features reports from international election observers monitoring the campaign and voting across Ukraine in 2004. Part Three focuses on electoral district No. 100 in Kirovohrad Oblast, providing additional on-the-ground insights. Contributions from various authors, including Andreas Umland, Iris Kempe, and others, introduce new perspectives that complement previous volumes. These often contradictory and emotional narratives, along with photographs, capture the tense atmosphere and confrontational climate that marked Ukraine's second phase of post-Soviet democratization beginning in 2004.

Die Untersuchung verbindet Systemwechsel-, Parlaments- und Abgeordnetenforschung. Dabei wird am Beispiel der Ukraine eine Korrelation zwischen „verschlepptem Systemwechsel“, „schleichendem Institutionenwandel“ (Parlament) und einer hohen habituellen Elitenkontinuität (Abgeordnete) nachgewiesen. Die Funktionsmechanismen der Ära unter Präsident Leonid Kucma (1994 - 2004) scheinen dabei jedoch weitgehend intakt. Vor diesem Hintergrund werden in der Arbeit Motive, Auswirkungen und Grenzen der Parlamentarisierung des ukrainischen Regierungssystems ausgelotet.

Die Orange Revolution hat in der Ukraine einen umfassenden Prozeß gesellschaftlicher Reorganisation in Gang gesetzt. Im vorliegenden Band wird dieses folgenreiche Ereignis vor allem aus institutionentheoretischer Perspektive als Übergang vom Superpräsidentialismus zu einem stärker parlamentarisch orientierten Regierungssystem gekennzeichnet. Dabei geht es insbesondere um die gesellschaftlichen und politischen Bestimmungsfaktoren des Volksaufstandes vom Herbst 2004. Volodymyr Yevtukh untersucht in der Einleitung Antriebskräfte, Motivationen und Erwartungshaltungen der Revolutionsteilnehmer. Kyrylo Galushko hinterfragt die Kompatibilität von politischer Tradition und Kultur in Hinblick auf die schrittweise Errichtung einer parlamentarischen Demokratie. Inwieweit läßt sich dieses Ordnungsprinzip aus bisherigen Erfahrungswerten der Ukraine herleiten? Der Beitrag von Sarah Whitmore widmet sich der internen Entwicklung und Organisationsstruktur des ukrainischen Parlaments seit der Unabhängigkeit, worin die Ursachen der bisherigen Marginalisierung der Verchovna Rada im Institutionensystem der Ukraine vermutet werden. Abschließend diskutiert Ingmar Bredies die Frage nach einer neuen Parlamentskultur unter den Abgeordneten der Verchovna Rada als Bedingungsfaktor der Orange Revolution.