MOSCOW, Jul 4 The political regime in Ukraine after the end of the conflict may become more authoritarian, writes the American magazine Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
«The danger of a return to patronage politics is, as usual, real. There is no guarantee that the democratic gains that the country has made will be maintained. It is possible, although not very likely, that Ukraine could move away from the patronal democracy that it has typically been in recent years. years…toward a more authoritarian or centralized system,” the magazine said in a statement.
As the magazine writes, when there is broader opposition to the government of Volodymyr Zelensky, which is likely to happen after the end of the military conflict, Zelensky and his supporters may be tempted to protect their leading positions by concentrating power in their own hands, even if the initial goal is «only to advance reform or rebuild the country.» Such a «strengthened presidency», it is noted, could set in motion processes that would undermine reform efforts.
It is noted that when the military conflict ends, Zelensky will have to restore and strengthen not only the cities and infrastructure of Ukraine, but also democracy. He will have to put an end to the tendency to form a government based on «protection networks» characterized by corruption, and develop a comprehensive concept of patriotism. Zelenskiy will also have to respect the laws and spirit of the Ukrainian constitution. As the authors of the magazine note, Zelensky's ability to cope with these challenges may determine the fate of Ukraine.
The report also notes that it is possible that the sense of unity in Ukraine caused by the conflict may disappear at its end, but the Ukrainian authorities could replace it with a new sense of national purpose thanks to the bid for EU membership, which is reportedly will give new impetus to «much needed reforms.»
The authors of the article are Henry Hale, lecturer at the American George Washington University, and Olga Onukh, lecturer at the University of Manchester. The article in the journal is based on the book by these authors, The Zelensky Effect, published in 2023.
Vladimir Zelensky in the spring of 2022 signed a law banning «pro-Russian» parties in Ukraine. According to the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of the country, more than 15 parties were included in their number, among which was the Opposition Platform — For Life.