Putinism Under Siege: Can There Be a Color Revolution?

Issue Date July 2012
Volume 23
Issue 3
Page Numbers 63-70
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The 2011–12 protests in Russia raise the question of whether the Putin regime could fall to a “color” or electoral revolution like those that have ousted other autocratic regimes in postcommunist Europe and Eurasia over the past decade and a half. In these prior cases, the main factor distinguishing successful from failed attempts was the extent to which an “electoral model” of regime change was implemented. Structural factors, particularly a vulnerable incumbent, played some role in the success of electoral breakthroughs, but the main explanation, we found, lay in the implementation of the electoral model.

About the Author

Sharon L. Wolchik is professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University and coauthor (with Valerie J. Bunce) of Defeating Authoritarian Leaders in Postcommunist Countries (2011).

View all work by Sharon Wolchik