Ukraine made headlines during winter of 2004-05 as colorful banners of the Orange Revolution unfurled against snowy backdrop of Kyiv, signaling bright promise of democratic rebirth. Is that what is really happening in Ukraine? In early post-Soviet period, Ukraine appeared to be firmly on path to democracy. The peaceful transfer of power from Leonid Kravchuk to Leonid Kuchma in election of 1994, followed by adoption of a western-style democratic constitution in 1996, seemed to complete the picture. The Kuchma presidency was soon clouded by rumors of corruption and political murder, and by 2004 the country was in full-blown political crisis. A three-stage presidential contest was won by Viktor Yushchenko, who took office in 2005 and appointed Yulia Tymoshenko as premier. The new government faltered and splintered. This introduction to Ukrainian politics looks beyond these dramatic events and compelling personalities to identify the actual play of power in Ukraine and operation of its political system. The author seeks to explain how it is that, after each new beginning, power politics has trumped democratic institution-building in Ukraine, as in so many other post-Soviet states. What is really at work here, and how can Ukraine break cycle of hope and disillusionment--Publisher's description.