Koval, Dmytro and Latsyba, Andrii (2025): The Impact of the Revolution of Dignity on Reforms in Ukraine: Case Studies of Judicial Reform and the Establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau
This policy brief examines how mass popular uprisings can lead to democratic progress at the local level, focusing specifically on Ukraine’s experience following the 2014 Revolution of Dignity. The research investigates why some grassroots democratization initiatives succeed while others fail in authoritarian or hybrid regimes experiencing mass protests. Using Ukraine’s shift from pro-Russian to pro-European orientation as a case study, the brief analyzes two key reform episodes: the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and judicial reform. Through interviews with civil society representatives, government officials, and EU project participants, the study reveals the dual nature of post-revolutionary reform processes, where significant progress coexists with substantial obstacles from both old and new political elites. The brief aims to provide practical recommendations for EU support of reforms in Ukraine and similar transformation processes in other regions.
EMBRACE Policy Brief 05