| Current events have brought to light Ukraine's overall failure to reform democratically. Why has there not been a successful transition and consolidation of democracy, in spite of their 1991 independence from Russia and the events of the Orange Revolution? This thesis examines the tangled web of Ukrainian-Russian pursuits in search of answers to that question and also applies several theories in the democratic literature to the Ukrainian situation, revealing a plausible explanation as to why integration remains the norm for both Ukrainian elites and the masses: the unique aspects of Ukraine's history, political and cultural values, path dependency dynamics, the elite variable in democratic transitions, and the so-called contagion effect. The results of this analysis confirm that a long history and geo-political linkages with Russia have likely resulted in path-dependent political, economic, and cultural patterns that inhibit their democratic development. This study concludes that as long as Ukrainian interests remain entangled and beholden to Russia, democracy will not move forward, and Ukrainian autonomy will be compromised as well. Finally, various suggestions are made to assist Ukraine in changing its political orientation and pursuing reform conducive to entry into the EU. |
