In the wake of revolution and the midst of war, Ukrainian politics is becoming increasingly more volatile. Intent on proving their anti-establishment bona fides, public figures are turning to firebrand populism in an effort to bolster their own “authenticity” and folksiness. In a sense, the rise of populist politics and accompanying “anti-elitist” rhetoric comes as no surprise: for years, Ukraine has been dominated by influential tycoons, known locally as “oligarchs.” Such oligarchs command vast economic resources and have greased the political machinery in Kiev since the breakup of the old Soviet Union.
In light of civil unrest …read more
Source: The Huffington Post
