The Orange Revolution and Euromaidan: the general and the particular

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Abstract

The Orange Revolution and Euromaidan became the most important events in the history of modern Ukraine, having a key impact on the vector of its development. Earlier, attempts were made in the foreign academic literature to compare both phenomena, but most of the researchers’ conclusions, due to their political bias, do not stand up to serious criticism. Comparative analysis of the Orange Revolution and Euromaidan is presented, based on fundamental scientific methods, primarily the principle of historicism and system approach. Using a wide range of sources, stages of both coups are analyzed, the role of the main actors and specifics of regime change operations in 2004–2005 and 2013–2014. Separately, it is considered why, against the relatively peaceful Orange revolution during the Euromaidan period, outbreaks of violence arose that led to numerous human casualties. The significant number of identified similarities allow to conclude that both color revolutions have the same nature, and the differences between them indicate the flexibility and effectiveness of geopolitical engineering technologies, implemented in Ukraine at the beginning of the XXI century.

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About the authors

Aleksandr O. Naumov

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Author for correspondence.
Email: naumovao@my.msu.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8366-5934

Doctor of Sciences (History), Professor, Department of International Organizations and Global Governance Problems, Faculty of Public Administration

Russian Federation, 119991, 27/4, Lomonosovsky Prospekt, Moscow

Anastasiya Yu. Naumova

Russian State University for the Humanities

Email: naumova.au@rggu.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0009-6174-0030

Doctor of Sciences (History) Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Eurasian and Oriental Studies

Russian Federation, 125047, 6, Miusskaya Square, Moscow

Dmitrii V. Demin

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Email: ivioa4@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8132-7341

post-graduate, Department of International Organizations and Global Governance Problems, Faculty of Public Administration

Russian Federation, 119991, 27/4, Lomonosovsky Prospekt, Moscow

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