Populism in Transitional Democracies: The Case of Ukraine in 2004, and 2014

• In Event: 2229 - Section on Political Sociology Refereed Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Political Sociology Refereed Roundtable #3

Abstract

This paper adds to ongoing debates on the interaction of democracy and populism by
addressing the differences and similarities between democracy and populism, and
identifying the dynamic relations between these political processes. It argues that
although democracy and populism vary regarding their definitions, goals, actors, and
methods of action, they are often intertwined and interact together especially in
transitional democracies. Using the Orange Revolution and the Euromaidan uprising of
2013-2014 that were the building blocks of democracy in Ukraine, this paper analyses
the impact of populism on fledgling democracy and discusses the dual normative and
empirical character of populism, and the vulnerability of democratic system to negative
interaction effects between populism and democracy. The paper concludes by
providing a template for a taxonomy of the elements of democracy and populism in
political events of the Orange Revolution and Euromaidan uprising in Ukraine, and a
direction of interactions between these elements.

Author

• Barbara Wejnert, University at Buffalo