Popular Protests and Democratization in Post-Soviet Countries: An Analysis of Why Some Democracy Movements Failed and Others Succeeded

Author

David McDonaldFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-2022

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

Croft Institute for International Studies

First Advisor

Joshua First

Second Advisor

Ana Velitchkova

Third Advisor

Oliver Dinius

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

This thesis seeks to analyze pro-democracy movements in post-Soviet countries through the lens of existing theories of democratization to determine why a particular protest movement succeeded or failed. Through a qualitative analysis of theories of democratization and four case studies – Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Belarus – this thesis finds that the theories of democratization are ultimately applicable and helpful in understanding these case studies, albeit in different ways. Whereas the theories and their predictions might be proven correct in the cases of Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, the opposite is true in Russia and Belarus, where authoritarian regimes have taken steps to counteract democratic pressure in their countries.

Recommended Citation

McDonald, David, "Popular Protests and Democratization in Post-Soviet Countries: An Analysis of Why Some Democracy Movements Failed and Others Succeeded" (2022). Honors Theses. 2469.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/2469

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.