Ukrainian Local Politics after Independence

Abstract

Local political leaders in Ukraine are far from oriented to the democratic transition introduced after the country's independence in 1991. Based on interviews with local political leaders in late 1991, research on local governments supports the conclusion that the local leaders have taken a small step toward a new social order. This is particularly true of the leaders' values concerning popular participation and social conflicts. One of the major reasons for this ambivalence of leaders is the fact that the powers of local governments are very limited as well as ambiguous and that competing political elites have yet to be formed into political parties. Nonetheless, a legal framework has been set for local self-government, and there are indications, however weak, that some elements of democratic views and practices are taking hold.