Relative Deprivation in Colour Revolutions in Post-Soviet countries

Abstract

Doctoral thesis is a part of the research about Colour Revolutions in Post - Soviet countries and is designed to evaluate factors, which influenced society decisions during the pre - revolution period in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyz Republic. Research aim is to review political and material deprivation as a ground of social protest during the pre - revolution period in case of Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyz Republic, in the frame of the Relative Deprivation theory, based on analysis of in - depth interviews, taking into consideration linkage between material deprivation and Gini Index. Research is based on qualitative research methodology, basic methodological approach is the method of the case study.

Among with anonymous in - depth interviews, based on projective techniques, with respondents grouped according to their attitudes towards Colour Revolutions, quantitative data is also reviewed. In order to increase research results validity and generality, despite analysis of three independent cases (Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyz Republic), thesis examines Serbia case and civil protest in Eastern European Post – Communist countries in 90 - ies. Besides testing major hypothesis, thesis implies study of alternative explanations of research variables. Analysis of in - depth interviews proves existence of political and material deprivation between social groups for the research period and shows methodological value evaluating Relative Deprivation through the Gini index, as a more measurable way to explain reasons beyond the Colour Revolutions.

Research demonstrates, that taking into consideration Gini index variation during the pre – revolution period, in the frame of the Relative Deprivation theory, is relevant to admit deprivation as a reason for the social protest and basis for the government change. Towards other hypothesis should be mentioned, that thesis empirical part confirms corruption of the Georgia, Ukraine, Kyrgyz Republic acting government and the fact of the electoral fraud, during the pre – revolution period existed external influence, which in case of Georgia and Ukraine led to the opposition and civil society strengthening. Towards theory of political

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