Ukraine as a Strategic Partner: Political Changes After Revolution of Dignity

Abstract

The political processes taking place in Ukraine since the beginning of 2014 are characterized by increased intensity and radicalism that alarms the foreign partners. There are absolutely opposite points of view on socio-political processes taking place in Ukraine. And while comparing Ukraine with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe the results of reforms will seem insignificant. If we compare the present-day Ukraine with the one of even five years ago, the depth of change is obvious. It is, first of all, about the institutional changes in the system for the formation of political decisions. Thus, the return to the parliamentary form of government and the expansion of the parliamentary staff powers allows the launching of political competition processes. Decentralization of finance has strengthened the position of local government. Reform of the government allows to optimize the system of public administration and delimits the responsibilities of local authorities. The lustration and the creation of anti-corruption bodies allow to improve the state authorities. At the same time, the main problem of Ukraine is the monopolization of the economy and politics by the financial and industrial groups. Reducing their influence and role in socio-political processes is a condition for Ukraine’s withdrawal from the hybrid state. After the Revolution of Dignity, their influence was significantly reduced due to the deregulation of the economy and changes in the system of principles for the formation of public authorities. But the destruction of the negative impact of informal institutions still has not been completed. The main reason is the conservation of mixed electoral system that was established as an instrument for the reproduction of the interests of financial and industrial groups in the government due to which the effect of the reforms is reduced.