Bohdan Harasymiw Books

Post-Communist Ukraine by Bohdan Harasymiw is one of the most comprehensive and penetrating studies of the political and social realities of independent Ukraine. The masterfully written, multi-faceted analysis documents and explains that country's successes and its more frequent failures during its transition from authoritarianism to democracy. Taking a comparative approach, Bohdan Harasymiw breaks free of the usual historical-cultural mode of dealing with Ukrainian politics. Step by step, he examines the primary elements of a modern democratic state and the degree to which these are in place: an agreed-on set of rules of the game in the form of an accepted constitution; a state capable of governing and claiming the loyalty of its people; a parliament representative of the public and able to legislate; a bureaucracy skilled at fashioning and implementing public policies, and not just following orders; a nation of fellow citizens living as a community; political parties channelling the interests of, and responsive to, their followers; elections that reflect the preferences of the voters; and policies ensuring the security and well-being of both state and society. These are analyzed in the light of other countries's experience with these institutions and processes. As a result, a comprehensive portrait of Ukraine's politics, which can be characterized as "post-Communist" but not yet "post-Soviet," emerges.

In Ukraine’s 2004 presidential election, establishment candidate Viktor Yanukovych had significant advantages, including a strong regional base, media dominance, and support from Moscow. However, the pro-Western challenger, Viktor Yushchenko, emerged victorious. This volume explores how Ukrainian voters navigated extensive propaganda to make their choice and questions whether the East-West divide in Ukraine was a reality or a media construct. Scholars from two continents analyze various aspects of the election that sparked the "Orange Revolution." The editor's introductory chapter discusses the electoral laws and their impact on previous elections. Subsequent contributions examine specific elements of the 2004 contest, such as the pivotal role of an independent television broadcaster and the Russian press's coverage, which favored Yanukovych while seeking parallels between Russia and Ukraine. Contributors also address the myths and stereotypes that overshadowed substantive issues during the campaign. One essay highlights the campaign's linguistic innovations, including the humorous "egg attack" on Yanukovych. Finally, the discussion reveals how the machine politics and fraud that succeeded in Donets’k faltered on a national scale, raising questions about whether the "Orange Revolution" was merely a media spectacle.