Party politics after the colour revolutions: party institutionalisation and democratisation in Ukraine and Georgia

Abstract

After 15 years of political stagnation, the colour revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia ushered in hopes of democratic progress. However, the failure of political parties to institutionalise and party systems to facilitate legitimate, political competition has stalled democratisation. Fatherland in Ukraine and United National Movement in Georgia rose to political prominence with democratic promises, but poor party infrastructure, unclear ideological foundations, political agendas driven by personal interest, and lack of reification resulted in weak party institutionalisation. Weak party institutionalisation is mediated by under-/over-institutionalised party systems which have led to substantial democratic deficits in both countries almost a decade later.

Keywords:

• party institutionalisation
• colour revolutions
• democratic consolidation
• Ukraine
• Georgia

Notes

Melanie G. Mierzejewski-Voznyak is a Ph.D. candidate in political science at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Her dissertation focuses on the inputs and outputs of party politics on democratization in Eastern Europe, with an emphasis on political party and party system institutionalization in Ukraine and Georgia.