Abstract:
Ukrainian politics lacks a genuine and strong social democratic party. The formerly
influential Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united) represented oligarchic interests
and was marginalized since the Orange revolution while several other social democratic
parties are insignificant.
Despite electoral successes in 1990s, support to non-modernized Communists
declined from 20 per cent in 2002 to 3-5 per cent in 2006-2010. Most of the Communist
electorate was seized by Party of Regions which represents large business
groups but simultaneously plays with populists slogans.
In contrast to the orthodox Communists, the Socialist Party gradually evolved to the
left social democracy but it was discredited by its 2006 defection from the Orange
camp to coalition with Party of Regions.
The Left claimed they would "defend ‘workers’ rights". However, their programs
contain only slogans. Therefore, the left also actively exploit cultural, language,
and foreign policy slogans which serve as a "marker" to attract their non-orange
electorate.
The active use of traditional "left", social slogans by all mainstream parties in electoral
campaigns indicates that the current crisis of the Ukrainian left is not one of
social-democratic ideology but of the left parties.
