Paul D'Anieri has written a long overdue explanation of the complicated world that is Ukrainian politics. Given the recent developments in Ukraine (viz.
Ukraine's Orange Revolution
), the book is timely as ever and ought to satisfy the most demanding of political junkies. It is cogent, organized and well researched. Its possible weakness - in some readers' eyes - is occasional repetitiveness by the author on topics previously addressed. On the other hand, this allows one to skip a section or even a chapter and still grasp the material fully.
To whom may this book appeal? Not for tourists. If you're thinking about visiting the blue and yellow country's Carpathian mountains or its Crimean beaches then you are best to opt for
Ukraine (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
. Otherwise, you may like this book if you are: a graduate student (or advanced undergrad), a journalist, a business person, a scholar, or simply someone interested in understanding how political systems work. Because it explains its analytical methods, the book will help its readers understand not only the political processes in Ukraine, but in other political systems.
What's inside the book?
-Chapter 1 is the "Introduction." This is the chapter that will help you get started actually understanding Ukrainian politics. It will serve as a primer and should not be skipped.
-Chapter 2 deals with "Institutions and Democracy." It is a type of literature review so if you are not familiar with the debates in the field then read it. If you are familiar then you may still find it helpful as a review section. Your choice. (This is also the chapter where D'Anieri explains why "institutional design" and "power politics" help understand Ukraine's political system).
-Chapter 3 "Power and Institutions" reviews one of the book's main theses: that the problem is "the concentration of de facto political power in the executive branch," a legacy from the Soviet times (pg. 73). The chapter is one of the more technical and may be dense for some readers. However, this is the bone upon which the meat will be thrown in the rest of the book. (The section on machine politics is rather interesting for its comparison with the U.S. experience).
-Chapter 4 titled "Evolution of Ukrainian Politics 1989-2006" is a mini-history of what happened, when, how and why. I knew the majority of this material, but it was still very helpful in situating the overall argument.
-Chapter 5 deals with "Societal Divisions." The news reports like to dramatize conflicts, such as the East-West divide. D'Anieri takes a hard empirical look at it, and finds that parties in the Ukrainian parliament are driven primarily by left-right rather than by linguistic or ethnic issues (pg. 114). The larger point is that majority coalitions are possible despite political cleavages.
-Chapter 6 addresses "institutional issues." The gist - institutions are crucial because they shape incentives of political actors. Also, don't miss the discussion on potential problems with the 2006 amendments, which instead of establishing separation of powers, created overlapping powers (pg. 146).
-Chapter 7 has to do with everything "Electoral Law" related. What explains the absence of majority in parliament? Is the shift to PR system good or bad? Find out here.
-Chapter 8 or "Parliamentary Rules." Whoever thought that Congressional rules matter, at least to the point that they do in Ukraine? In this section of the book, you'll learn the differences among "parties" vs. "blocks" vs. "factions." D'Anieri also talks about the "imperative mandate" which was at the center of the Spring-Summer 2007 crisis when Yushchenko dissolved Verkhovna Rada.
-Chapter 9 titled "How Power Politics Trumps Institutional Design" will tell you how authoritarian governments do what they do. It might as well be a handbook for aspiring authoritarians. The tools range from selective law enforcement to patronage to the control of judiciary and others. The chapter also talks about the limits of these resources.
-Chapter 10 is a "Comparative Perspective." How does Ukraine compare with Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia and Venezuela? The section is a bit rushed and the subject (as the author admits) is not treated in-depth. However, it seems to serve the needs of the book and gives it a global application outside the Ukrainian case.
-Lastly Chapter 11 where D'Anieri elaborates on "Beyond Orange Revolution." What does that specific event mean in Ukraine's history? Where do we go from here? The author offers an agenda for further reform which would help Ukrainian leaders and the people lead the country away from the "electoral authoritarianism."
This text is the most up-to-date and thorough work in the field. I strongly recommend if not acquiring it then certainly reading it by getting a copy from the library. Enjoy the maze of power, politics, and institutional design.
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