The Colour Revolutions in the Former Soviet Republics: Successes and Failures

267 Pages·2010·1.276 MB·English

by  Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Abel Polese

The Colour Revolutions in the
Former Soviet Republics
During the first decade of the twenty-first 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 twenty- first 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 circum-
stances 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 demon-
strates 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.
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.
Routledge Contemporary Russia and Eastern Europe Series
1 Liberal Nationalism in Central 8 The Development of Capitalism
Europe in Russia
Stefan Auer Simon Clarke
2 Civil- Military Relations in Russia 9 Russian Television Today
and Eastern Europe Primetime drama and comedy
David J. Betz David MacFadyen
3 The Extreme Nationalist Threat 10 The Rebuilding of Greater Russia
in Russia Putin’s foreign policy towards the
The growing influence of Western CIS countries
rightist ideas Bertil Nygren
Thomas Parland
11 A Russian Factory Enters the
4 Economic Development in Market Economy
Tatarstan Claudio Morrison
Global markets and a Russian region
Leo McCann 12 Democracy Building and Civil
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5 Adapting to Russia’s New Labour Armine Ishkanian
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Gender and employment strategy 13 NATO- Russia Relations in the
Edited by Sarah Ashwin Twenty- First Century
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6 Building Democracy and Civil
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Essays in honour of Edmund A failed exercise in defence
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in motion Edited by Elana Wilson Rowe and
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16 Russian Nationalism and the 21 Russia and Europe
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17 The Caucasus – An Introduction
Frederik Coene 22 Russia’s Skinheads
Exploring and rethinking
18 Radical Islam in the Former subcultural lives
Soviet Union Hilary Pilkington, Elena
Edited by Galina M. Yemelianova Omel’chenko and Al’bina
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19 Russia’s European Agenda and
the Baltic States 23 The Colour Revolutions in the
Janina Šleivytė Former Soviet Republics
Successes and failures
20 Regional Development in Edited by Donnacha Ó Beacháin
Central and Eastern Europe: and Abel Polese
Development processes and policy
challenges
Edited by Grzegorz Gorzelak,
John Bachtler and Maciej
Smętkowski

The Colour Revolutions in the
Former Soviet Republics
Successes and failures
Edited by Donnacha Ó Beacháin and
Abel Polese
First published 2010
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2010.
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© 2010 Donnacha Ó Beacháin and Abel Polese for selection and editorial
matter; individual contributors their contribution
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
The colour revolutions in the former Soviet republics: successes and failures
/ edited by Donnacha Ó Beacháin and Abel Polese.
p. cm.—(Routledge contemporary Russia and Eastern Europe series;
23)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Protest movements—Former Soviet republics. 2. Opposition (Political
science)—Former Soviet republics. 3. Former Soviet republics—Politics and
government. I. Ó Beacháin, Donnacha. II. Polese, Abel.
JN6531.C65 2010
947.086’2—dc22 2009052578
ISBN 0-203-84895-0 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN: 978- 0-415- 58060- 1 (hbk)
ISBN: 978- 0-203- 84895- 1 (ebk)
Contents
Acknowledgments ix
List of contributors xi
Foreword xv
1 Introduction: what’s in a colour? 1
2 Georgia 13
FRANCOISE J. COMPANJEN
3 Ukraine 30
NATHANIEL COPSEY
4 Kyrgyzstan 45
DAVID LEWIS
5 Moldova 62
RYAN KENNEDY
6 Armenia 83
MIKAYEL ZOLYAN
7 Azerbaijan 101
VICKEN CHETERIAN
8 Belarus 118
USTINA MARKUS
9 Russia 136
THOMAS AMBROSIO
viii Contents
10 Uzbekistan 156
MATTEO FUMAGALLI AND SIMON TORDJMAN
11 Tajikistan 177
ROBERT KEVLIHAN AND AMRI SHERZAMONOV
12 Kazakhstan 196
RICO ISAACS
13 Turkmenistan 217
DONNACHA Ó BEACHÁIN
Conclusion 237
Index 245
Acknowledgements
In putting together a work like this a debt inevitably accumulates. Accordingly, we
would like to thank the following people for their help, guidance and intellectual
stimulation.
Adrian Brisku, Alaksandra Dynko, Aldiyar Autalipov, Aleksandr Prigarin,
Aleksandr Yanussik, Alfia Urazaeva, Aliona Kuvichko, Andrea Graziosi, Anna
Dolidze, Armine Aleksanyan, Asbed Kotchikian, Assel Rustemova, Ayman Salem,
Balihar Sanghera, Bermet Tursunkulova, Brian Farley, Burul Usmanallieva,
Daye Thurbin, Daniel Noah Moses, David Kuijper, David Loyd Stern, Dildora
Abidjanova, Ekaterina Romanova, Emilbek Joroev, Emmanuel Karagiannis,
Eoghan Lennon, Frederik Coene, Frederick Emrich, George Welton, Giorgi
Kandelaki, Gregory Levonian, Gvantsa Chikovani, Ilan Greenberg, Ingrid de Beer,
Inola Apakidze, Irina Chkhaidze, Irina Sikorskaya, Iryna Solokenko, Joe Bensen,
John Clark, John Kelly, Jonathan Pixler, Jussi Niemeläinen, Katya Skogen,
Kristopher Dodge White, Laurel Fain, Leslie Champeny, Levan Gigineishvili,
Maia Mukhuradze, Maka Uberi, Marina Sapritsky, Maryna Rakhlei, Mark Mullen,
Michael Denison, Michael C. McHugh, Milena Metodieva, Muharram Maksudova,
Nana Dzadzamia, Nargis Kassenova, Nino Dzotsenidze, Nino Sukhitashvili, Olga
Brusylovska, Olga Denyshchyk, Paul McGuill, Peter Rodgers, Rajen Parekh,
Richard Rousseau, Robert Kevlihan, Rossa Ó Muireartaigh, Saidolimhon Gaziyev,
Saiyora Ismailova, Salome Asatiani, Sandro Chkhaidze, Simon Morley, Sneja
Dobrosavljevic, Songul Cengiz, Stuart Graham, Tamara Aleksidze, Tamuna
Karosanidze, Tanya Basina, Tanya Richardson, Tatiana Yarkova, Tatsiana
Lizahub, Tima Moldogaziev, Timothy Blauvelt, Togzhan Kassenova, Vanessa
Ruget, Victoria Lavrova, Viktor Stepanenko, ‘Vova’ Chaplin, Vsevolod Bashkuev,
and Zurab Japaridze.
A special debt of gratitude is due to Renata Matuszkiewicz and Aleksandra
Seliverstova.
Our endeavours were greatly assisted over the years by our colleagues and
friends in the Civic Education Project, Academic Fellowship Program, Central Asia
Resource Centre, and Hannah- Arendt Institute for the Research on Totalitarianism.
We would also like to thank our colleagues at our respective universities. Particular
appreciation goes to John Doyle who, as Head of Dublin City University’s School
of Law and Government, has provided immense support and encouragement.