The International Dimension of Democratisation: the Impact of the EU and Russia on Ukraine’s Political Regime

The dissertation is dedicated to the issue of Ukraine’s democratic transition. Particularly, the role of external factors influencing the democratisation processes in 2010-2013 is considered and examined. An attempt is made to evaluate which factors influence the preservation and change of the so-called ‘hybrid’ political regime formed after more than two decades of Ukrainian independence. In this context, attention is paid to the EU sanctioned policies which promote democracy (the ENP and the EaP, perspectives of EU-Ukraine Association Agreement) and the resulting impetus for further democratic reforms. At the same time, the impact of Russia’s response to the processes of EU-Ukraine convergence, such as the extension of its ‘soft power’, and especially the promotion of alternative integration projects like a joint Customs Union, is also gauged.The dissertation is dedicated to the issue of Ukraine’s democratic transition. Particularly, the role of external factors influencing the democratisation processes in 2010-2013 is considered and examined. An attempt is made to evaluate which factors influence the preservation and change of the so-called ‘hybrid’ political regime formed after more than two decades of Ukrainian independence. In this context, attention is paid to the EU sanctioned policies which promote democracy (the ENP and the EaP, perspectives of EU-Ukraine Association Agreement) and the resulting impetus for further democratic reforms. At the same time, the impact of Russia’s response to the processes of EU-Ukraine convergence, such as the extension of its ‘soft power’, and especially the promotion of alternative integration projects like a joint Customs Union, is also gauged