The Evolution of the Ukrainian Societal Demands towards Domestic and Foreign Policy since the 2014 Ukraine Crisis

The present dissertation evaluates the extent to which Ukrainian societal demands towards domestic and foreign policy during and after the Ukraine Crisis in 2013-14 have had a direct impact on policy-making. An investigation of the composition of Ukrainian civil society is followed by the analysis of the evolution of the actual societal demands and an evaluation of the ways in which these demands have influenced foreign and domestic policy. It is found that Ukrainian civil society has been able to unify behind the idea of a better future for Ukraine, associated to closer ties with the European Union, and has become a vehicle for reform, targeting Ukrainian economy and state corruption. As the EuroMaidan protests became increasingly violent, Ukrainian society urged for and achieved the ousting of the Yanukovych regime. It is argued that societal demands for economic reform, regime transparency and accountability have seen the emergence of various promising civil society initiatives and have enjoyed the support of the EU. The empowerment of Ukrainian civil society has broken away with the model of post-Soviet apathy towards the political life of the country.