GOVERNMENT–OPPOSITION RELATIONS DURING THE REVOLUTION OF DIGNITY (2014)

Abstract

The interactions between the government and the opposition in Ukraine during the Revolution of Dignity (November 2013 – February 2014), a pivotal stage in the development of the contemporary Ukrainian political system, are analysed. Drawing on scholarly sources and legal documents, the study demonstrates how the gradual narrowing of institutional mechanisms of parliamentary oversight, the concentration of executive power, and the monopolisation of the media space contributed to conflict escalation and the opposition’s turn to extra-institutional forms of action. The chronology of events in 2013-2014 is shown to have unfolded in three consecutive stages: managed competition (limited effectiveness of parliamentary instruments), «dual pressure» (a combination of parliamentary activity with mass street mobilisation), and the breakdown of the institutional agreement (parliamentary delegitimation and transition to the street phase of confrontation). It is argued that the adoption of the 16 January 2014 laws marked a turning point, after which parliament ceased to serve as a negotiating arena and the opposition could no longer act as a full-fledged participant in the political process.

Special attention is devoted to the role of civil society as a non-partisan arbiter capable of influencing both sides of the conflict and reshaping the logic of political interaction. It is shown that the combination of societal self-organisation, the expansion of horizontal networks, and the weakening of the state’s monopoly over information resources facilitated the delegitimation of authoritarian practices. Post-revolutionary transformations are examined, including the reconfiguration of the parliamentary majority, the renewal of the party system, and the strengthening of institutional support for opposition activity. A comparative analysis of European practice suggests that preventing future crises requires the legislative consolidation of the opposition’s status, independent media regulation, and transparent governmental communication. The main models of government–opposition relations are identified, and the specifics of the mechanisms of their political interaction are examined. It is demonstrated that the combination of strong democratic institutions, a legitimate opposition, and an active civil society can ensure state stability in the face of political challenges.