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The '''Orange Revolution''' was the successful democratic political upheaval of 2004 in [[Ukraine]].  The presidential election of 2004 brought Ukraine to the brink of civil war. Scandal-ridden President [[Leonid Kuchma]] endorsed the candidacy of his Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who was also strongly supported by Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]]. [[Viktor Yushchenko]], running on an anticorruption, anticronyism platform, led the opposition.  

The '''Orange Revolution''' was the successful democratic political upheaval of 2004 in [[Ukraine]].  The presidential election of 2004 brought Ukraine to the brink of civil war. Scandal-ridden President [[Leonid Kuchma]] endorsed the candidacy of his Prime Minister [[Viktor Yanukovych]], who was also strongly supported by Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]]. [[Viktor Yushchenko]], running on an anticorruption, anticronyism platform, led the opposition.  

In September Yushchenko's health strangely deteriorated; he had been poisoned by the Ukrainian State Security Service, which left his face disfigured. Yanukovych also tried to portray Yushchenko as an American lackey who would undermine the stable relationship that Ukraine had developed with Russia under Kuchma. The Yanukovych campaign called his opponent "Bushenko" and circulated posters and leaflets warning of a U.S.-orchestrated civil war in Ukraine similar to those in Bosnia, Serbia, and Iraq should Yushchenko come to power.

In September Yushchenko's health strangely deteriorated; he had been poisoned by the Ukrainian State Security Service, which left his face disfigured. Yanukovych also tried to portray Yushchenko as an American lackey who would undermine the stable relationship that Ukraine had developed with Russia under Kuchma. The Yanukovych campaign called his opponent "Bushenko" and circulated posters and leaflets warning of a U.S.-orchestrated civil war in Ukraine similar to those in Bosnia, Serbia, and Iraq should Yushchenko come to power.

Ukraine's Freedom House scores jumped from ''partially free'' in 2004 to ''free'' in 2005.  

Ukraine's Freedom House scores jumped from ''partially free'' in 2004 to ''free'' in 2005.  

[[File:Ukraine-12-13-2004.jpg|thumb|270px|Canadian news magazine reports, Dec. 13, 2004]]  

[[File:Ukraine-12-13-2004.jpg|thumb|270px|Canadian news magazine reports, Dec. 13, 2004]]  

==Interpretation==

==Interpretation==

The deep divisions that have become evident under Yushchenko had their origins in Ukraine's regionalism, the "Kuchmagate" crisis, antiregime protests, and different attitudes to dealing with the past.  The country is divided by linguistic and regional cleavages that appear sharply in regional polarization in national elections. These divisions have led to constant questioning of the viability of the Ukrainian state and predictions of violence and civil war. Secessionist movements have made few inroads, however, and violence has been nonexistent. Because the "minority" group in Ukraine is actually quite large, it has immense influence in the state without resort to regional autonomy or secession. The balance of power between Ukraine's regions and ethnic groups has ensured that neither side has dominated. This does not make for rapid reform, but it has created a stable state.

The deep divisions that have become evident under Yushchenko had their origins in Ukraine's regionalism, the "Kuchmagate" crisis, antiregime protests, and different attitudes to dealing with the past.  The country is divided by linguistic and regional cleavages that appear sharply in regional polarization in national elections. These divisions have led to constant questioning of the viability of the Ukrainian state and predictions of violence and civil war. Secessionist movements have made few inroads, however, and violence has been nonexistent. Because the "minority" group in Ukraine is actually quite large, it has immense influence in the state without resort to regional autonomy or secession. The balance of power between Ukraine's regions and ethnic groups has ensured that neither side has dominated. This does not make for rapid reform, but it has created a stable state.