Color Revolutions Research Articles

The Transformation of NATO-Russia Relations under the Context of NATO Expansion: From Post-Cold War to the 2014 Crimea Crisis

This paper will examine the transformation of NATO-Russia relations from the post-Cold War stage to the 2014 Crimea crisis. It will specify how NATO's several eastward expansions contributed to the shift of Russia's foreign policy and their bilateral relationship. The analysis will begin with the optimism the Russian side held after the Cold War and the establishment of bilateral cooperation acts such as the Basic Act and the Partnership for Peace. The paper will also analyze the color revolutions that occurred in Ukraine and Georgia, as well as the subsequent 2008 Russo-Georgian War, to examine how Russia's foreign policy has shifted during the 2000s. The paper will then shed light on the Ukrainian crisis in 2014, which ultimately ended the cooperation between Russia and NATO. Through case studies, this paper will examine the shift of Russias foreign policy in the context of NATO's eastward expansion, which has reshaped the geopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe in the past decades.

Cornflower Revolution of 2006 in Belarus in modern scientific discourse

The article examines the current state of historiography of the Color Revolution in Belarus in 2006. The sources are publications of Western and domestic scientists on this topic. The main concepts and approaches of North American, European, Belarusian and Russian specialists are considered, problematic positions in the study of the phenomenon of this Color Revolution in the post-Soviet space and ways to solve them are indicated. In the course of the analysis of scientific articles and monographs, the authors come to the conclusion that at the moment there are still a number of unexplored aspects in the scientific discourse regarding the unsuccessful coup d’etat in the Republic of Belarus, and therefore there is a need for a comprehensive and systematic study of this event.

Review: Colour Revolution: Victorian Art, Fashion & Design, Ashmolean Museum Oxford exhibition

Review: Colour Revolution: Victorian Art, Fashion & Design, Ashmolean Museum Oxford exhibition

Причины возникновения «бархатных революций» как нового типа социально-политической дестабилизации в XXI в.: теоретический анализ

The global processes of the late 20th – early 21st century post factum demonstrated a significant change in trends in the political development of countries, which primarily affected the so-called technologies of “color revolutions” – the external dismantling of politically undesirable figures from the highest echelon of power in favor of more loyal ones. Although at present there is a common understanding of the reasons of color revolutions (which include the existence of internal economic and political problems; the availability of information and financial resources representing the interests of leading foreign countries; specially / indirectly created problems in the economic and social spheres; the unwillingness of the current undesirable government to cooperate with the opposition), it is necessary to consider such events in more detail in order to identify additional characteristics that will allow a better understanding of the mechanisms of political destabilization and get a more complete picture of possible threats to national security of the Russian Federation.

Activity of youth movements in Ukraine at the turn of the XX-XXI centuries

The purpose of the study is to analyze the evolution of the youth protest movement in Ukraine in the late 1990s - early 2000s. A comparative historical method and an interdisciplinary approach are applied. The author’s scientific contribution consists in the fact that for the first time in Russian historiography, such problems as the role of Ukrainian youth and students in the Revolution on granite and the “Ukraine without Kuchma” campaign are seriously studied, as well as the history of the creation of the youth organization “Pora”, which was destined to play one of the key roles in the Orange revolution in Ukraine at the end of 2004. The author comes to the conclusion that the genesis of the Ukrainian youth protest movement at the turn of the XX-XXI centuries is distinguished by a significant originality, and its result was the emergence of a phenomenon unique for the Ukrainian socio-political space - the organization “Pora”. It is emphasized that this structure was created on the theoretical and practical basis of previous anti-government campaigns, in which Ukrainian youth took a direct part. At the same time, it was guided by the experience of similar foreign movements that had previously successfully applied the methodology of nonviolent struggle against the ruling regimes developed in the West. Like its European associates, “Pora” has made a significant contribution to the victory of the Color revolution in its own state.

Use of psychoactive substances by foreign armed forces in combat situations

Systematization of the experience of using psychoactive compounds by foreign armed forces in combat situations is important and relevant since effective solutions to the medical consequences of the issue is possible to address only through the understanding the historical aspects and prerequisites for their use. We analyzed the historical experience of the use of psychoactive compounds in combat situations by foreign armed forces. Articles published in scientific iterature was searched using the PubMed database and the Scientific Electronic Library at www.eLIBRARY.ru. The analysis of the identified literature has shown that psychoactive substances have been frequently used by the armies of foreign countries in wars and armed conflicts as combat psychostimulants and toxic chemicals, as well as therapeutic and narcotic drugs. The latter, regardless of the purpose of their use, have a substantial addictive potential, often contributed to increases in drug addiction among both the military and the civilians. The widespread use of psychoactive substances in the conditions of modern “color revolutions” and hybrid wars threatens the goal of preserving mental health of the present and future generations.

Colour reception(s): The Narrative of the Exhibition “Colour Revolution: Victorian Art, Fashion and Design” (Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 21 September 2023-18 February 2024)

This article analyses the aesthetics of reception from the angle of XIXth-century colour. Although the Victorian era is often depicted in sombre tones in popular culture, the age of industry in fact brought about a series of scientific and technical innovations in the fields of colour perception and production. The ERC project CHROMOTOPE analyses the artistic and literary impact of this chromatic turn. One of the major outcomes of this research programme was the exhibition “Colour Revolution : Victorian Art, Fashion and Design” which took place at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford from 21 September 2023 to 18 February 2024. In this article I shed light on the scenography of this show which explored how the colours of the past might be told to and staged for a modern audience.

Relations between Russia, Turkey and Iran in the context of military-political ties with the Syrian Arab Republic

The subject of the study is the political relations that arose as a result of Russia’s initiation of the «triple format» on the Syrian issue. The purpose of the study is to comprehensively analyze the development of the Astana format in the context of military-political relations with the Syrian Arab Republic in the political aspect. The methodological basis of the study consists of descriptive, comparative, typological and systematic methods. Descriptive and systematic methods made it possible to provide a holistic picture of the political processes related to the combination of factors that provoked military-political conflicts in Syria. The typology made it possible to study the processes occurring in Syria during the chronological period: from the moment of the Syrian color revolution to the present. The use of a systematic approach made it possible to present the Syrian crisis as an integral system of interacting elements. The scientific novelty of the study is determined by the fact that new sources were involved in the work, which relate to the diverse aspects of military-political relations with the Syrian Arab Republic in the context of the Syrian crisis. The practical significance of the work lies in the fact that the materials presented in it can be used for the political and diplomatic resolution of crisis situations that help preserve the integrity and sovereignty of states, preventing armed intervention in their internal processes. Based on these circumstances, it seems that the plans of the Western community, including the United States, provided for the elimination of countries as distinctive states with their own sovereignty, aimed at pursuing a policy of a bipolar world order. It was in this aspect that these countries used such a mechanism of influence as provoking “color revolutions.”

ПАТРИОТИЧЕСКОЕ ВОСПИТАНИЕ МОЛОДЕЖИ КАК ЭЛЕМЕНТ НАУЧНО-ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНОГО ВЗАИМОДЕЙСТВИЯ НА ЕВРАЗИЙСКОМ ПРОСТРАНСТВЕ В 2023 Г.: ОПЫТ ИНСТИТУТА ЕВРАЗИЙСКИХ И МЕЖРЕГИОНАЛЬНЫХ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ РГГУ

The development of patriotic consciousness is one of the tasks of the educational process implemented by universities. The year of 2023 in Russia was declared the Year of the Teacher and Mentor, therefore, educational activities, the target audience of which are students of higher education institutions, attained a special importance. As an example of such activities, the author cites the events held in 2023 at the Institute of Eurasian and Interregional Studies of the Russian State University for the Humanities, which were attended by students, graduate students and staff of both the Russian State University for the Humanities and a number of universities of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Participants in the events discussed such topical issues of international relations as the protection of historical truth about the events of the Great Patriotic War, new challenges and threats to the sustainable development of Eurasian countries and mechanisms to counter them, Russia’s foreign policy at the present stage, the consequences of “color revolutions” for the Eurasian space, as well as the role of social and humanitarian sciences in the development and cooperation of the countries of the Eurasian space. The author comes to a conclusion that holding such events in a scientific-discussion format has a significant impact on the effectiveness of patriotic education of student youth.

Putinjugend: The Pro-Kremlin Youth Movement Nashi

This study investigates the dialectic between party politics and contentious street politics. a concept central to the personality of the youth organisation Nashi, also known as Putinjugend, which supports the Kremlin. Following the Colour Revolution, the movement was created in Russia in 2005, with the Putin administration's support. As a result, the study is based on a theoretical framework that emphasises the growing significance of divided politics in forming Nashi's worldview. Nashi's responsibilities grew over time to include fostering youth involvement in party politics. They do, however, enjoy government support. Nashi's continued participation in contentious politics in support of the Putin administration. In addition to the theoretical framework, the paper focuses on a case study: backing demonstrations in Moscow in December 2000, when Nashi declares its support for President Putin.

A "Colour Revolution" in Iran? Attack it with a Social Stability Model based on TOPSIS!

A "color revolution" achieves regime change by attacking the weakest link in society, but once the ratio of each link in society is out of balance, it will cause social deformation and thus affect social stability. To study the factors affecting social stability and avoid "color revolutions", it is necessary to establish an effective social stability index system, and on this basis, to build a social stability coefficient model. To establish a complete social stability index system, this paper selects population, defense science and technology, environment, education, economy, and agriculture after dimensionality reduction. The six indicators were then downscaled to obtain population, national defense, science and technology, environment, education, economy, and agriculture, and the social stability coefficient was classified into five levels from 0 to 1 using the TOPSIS evaluation algorithm, with the higher the level the worse the social stability. Using Spearman and Akaike Causality to test the indicator system, it was found that there was a significant correlation and causality between the stability coefficient and each indicator, and the indicator system was well established. For regions that failed to launch "color revolutions", this paper takes Iran as an example, and after bringing its 44 indicators into the social stability coefficient model in 2018, it comes out that the social stability coefficient of Iran is 0.637, and the social stability level is in the second level of stability to the third level of stability, which is a more stable state at this time. There may be some precursors of social unrest. At the same time, Iran's population development and education level are at a high level, and the general education and knowledge of the Iranian people are high, so the number of people who participate in internal conflicts and revolutions is reduced, which leads to the failure of color revolutions.

(In)securitising post-Soviet Space through Security Policies: Russian and the Western Concerns on the Colour Revolutions in Ukraine and Georgia

This article mainly elaborates the relations between Russia and the West during and after the Cold War. Both sides saw each other as a security threat during the Cold War. After 1990s when the Soviet Union collapsed, this antagonistic relation ended for a short period. Once Vladimir Putin came to power, Russia once again revealed security concerns in the post-Soviet space. The iconic symbol of this concern was the Colour Revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine. The Kremlin saw the Revolutions as a Western threat to Russia’s identity formation in the region. On the other hand, the West saw the Revolutions as a call for democratic liberation for the peoples of the region. Hence, this study looks deeply into both sides of concerns about the Revolutions through the concepts of identity politics and security concerns.

Формирование гражданско-правовой культуры молодежи как фактор противодействия информационной войне против России

Introduction. The paper analyzes the relationship between the level of civil law culture of certain categories of the population, in particular, youth, and the effectiveness of information warfare measures, whose operations are carried out against Russia in order to achieve specific socio-political goals. One of the key areas of information and psychological operations carried out against the citizens of the Russian Federation is the implementation of technologies in this country, the so-called “color revolutions,” which can be countered only when a high level of awareness and civil culture among citizens is achieved. In this regard, the purpose is to consider the principles of the formation of civil law culture in the context of the implementation of state policy to prevent the impact of information and psychological operations on the population of the Russian Federation, in particular, youth. Methods. The methodological framework for the study consists of the methods of scientific cognition, including such main ones as the methods of consistency, analysis, and comparative law. Results. The main direction of the formation of the civil law culture of youth in the context of countering information and psychological operations is the formation of an appropriate stereotype of behavior, which is aimed at supporting the idea of the integrity of the state and the preservation of its traditions, including in matters of governance and the implementation of the political system. Conclusions. The main aspects of information and psychological impact in the context of hybrid confrontation in the international arena are considered. The main provisions of the stereotyping of youth behavior are revealed. The main directions and tools for the formation of the civil law culture of youth are identified.

What's Your Color? Mood Conditioning the Postwar Domestic Interior

Abstract The postwar era in the United States saw an explosion of mass-produced colors across a range of materials and technologies, as well as increased demand for professional color consultants both within and outside the home. While this period (sometimes called the color revolution) is typically viewed as catalyzing new possibilities for self-expression, this rhetoric of consumer choice in fact served to naturalize existing social hierarchies and normative modes of vision through standardized color. This article looks to the postwar American domestic interior to dissect a historical moment when color, divided into serialized paint swatches, became grid-like, quantitative, and severed from form. It examines several key shifts in the conceptualization of standardized color in the postwar period, particularly as they played into identity formation along racial, class-based, and gendered lines. Analyzing popular archival materials such as paint catalogues and women's magazines alongside the writings of the prominent color consultant Faber Birren (1900 – 1988), the article contends that it was in the midcentury domestic interior that the cultivation and commodification of personality became synonymous with technological and social advancement. Though color consultants emphasized that the home was a space for individual consumers to assert their uniqueness through color customization, this so-called freedom of choice in fact rendered gender, race, and class subject to further standardization and classification in the name of social and technological “progress.”

«Неизбежный» алгоритм истории / “Inevitable” Algorithm of History

The article criticizes the “revolutionism” that has engulfed the modern era in the fires of color revolutions. Apologists for such thinking push it into all imaginable contexts - from everyday life, production, trade and commerce, socio-political to scientific and philosophical - everywhere the transition to a different way of life or action is interpreted as supposedly a “revolution”. The indoctrination of this type of perception of phenomena has long penetrated schools and the education system. The struggle of opposites is considered in such philosophical views to be the main law of history, to the detriment of even their unity. At the same time, the first philosopher in the history of mankind and the teacher of Greek philosophers, Hermes Trismegistus, emphasized the unity of opposites and their interaction as a natural path of harmonious development, rejecting the “inevitability” of their struggle. Modern scientists and philosophers are increasingly inclined towards this interpretation, having accepted the concept of harmonization as the basis for future development.

Hybrid War and Colour Revolutions in Hong Kong: A Means to Achieve Regime Change in China?

Abstract Where the limits of today’s international order prevent direct and costly confrontations between great powers, hybrid war allows for the manipulation of situations from afar to achieve desired outcomes, such as through Colour Revolutions. While the concept of hybrid war has been thoroughly researched in the context of foreign interventions in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, there is no substantial literature applied to the case of Hong Kong. This article investigates China’s claims that there was a ‘black hand’ behind Hong Kong’s protests – specifically the 2014 Umbrella Movement, 2019 Anti-elab protests, and 2020 nsl protests – determining the extent and role of foreign forces there. Using a set of theoretical propositions derived from a theoretical framework and a narrative explanation of how factors affect mobilisation in social movements, a macro-causal analysis about the role of external forces in Hong Kong is determined. Ultimately, this article alludes to the fact that the U.S. and other foreign forces are waging a hybrid war against China, utilising the Hong Kong social movements to achieve indirect regime change.

Влияние внутриполитических факторов в различных странах на социально-политическую дестабилизацию: опыт количественного анализа

The events of the early 2000s showed that the technologies for changing power through ‘color revolutions’ mostly work in developing countries characterized, among other things, by a long period of rule of one leader. The objective of this study is to study, using quantitative methods, the existence of relationships and patterns between the duration of a leader's staying in power and the integral index of socio-political destabilization in various countries. The statistical analysis carried out showed that there is a statistically significant positive relationship between the indicator of the duration of the leader’s continuous rule and the integral index of socio-political destabilization in countries that are partial autocracies. It is known ‘intermediate’ countries that are in the process of transition to modern institutional democracy (or formally striving for such a transition, declaring it) are the most vulnerable to destabilization. Our study shows that one of the factors that increase the likelihood of instability in such countries is long stay of the leader in power. It should be noted that from the point of view of political science, Russia is a developed state with a complex and well-established political culture, capable of effectively resisting attempts to destabilize by organizing ‘color revolutions’.

Western carrot and whip Diplomacy for Serbia

The multi-vector policy of the Serbian leadership makes it possible to maintain a delicate balance of relations with the West and the East — the European Union and Russia. Serbia, as a key country in the Balkan region, is experiencing tremendous pressure from Euro-American "well-wishers" to join the anti-Russian sanctions and sign the peace plan proposed by France and Germany to normalize the situation in Kosovo and Metohija. Serbia is successfully diversifying its relations with Russia and with other countries outside the Western bloc. At the same time, Belgrade in certain areas is forced to follow the policy of the collective West. This is done largely in connection with pragmatic goals — obtaining economic benefi ts from ties with EU countries and the West in general, adhering to such values and actively promoting them. At the same time, in order to speed up the process of subordinating Belgrade to the demands of Washington and Brussels, a hybrid war is already being waged against Serbia today with the threat of unleashing a proxy war and a color revolution. The eff orts of external and internal opponents of the current leadership of Serbia and its political line to preserve the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country form the necessary and suffi cient conditions for the use of modern strategies and technologies of interstate confrontation. The proxy war strategy provides for the possibility of using the self-proclaimed “Republic of Kosovo” as a proxy agent for the US and NATO for a military attack on Belgrade. At the same time, preparations are underway for a coup d'état in the course of a color revolution in order to bring to power a government manipulated by the West. Practical recommendations are given for organizing a rebuff to hybrid aggression.

Perception of a “Color Revolution” in China under the Xi Jinping Regime and National Security Implications—Close interconnection between domestic politics and diplomacy—

The Xi Jinping regime in China has been implementing various policies that prioritize the concept of “national security,” and highlight concerns about the perceived threat of a Color Revolution. The concept of “national security” has been elevated to a policy philosophy of “holistic” or “comprehensive” security. This comprehensive security means that “security” is related to all areas, including the economy, culture, and the environment, and that security takes precedence over other factors such as the economy, culture, and the environment. Diplomacy is no exception, and the policy philosophy is to treat diplomacy and security together, where security takes precedence over diplomacy. The emphasis on the logic of national security also influenced its Hong Kong policy and its policy of governing the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Furthermore, it led to the strengthening of domestic management of foreigners and international NGOs. Moreover, this domestic logic of “national security” has had a strong influence on foreign policy. For example, the domestically propagated discourse on the “color revolution” directly influenced the US-China summit meeting, where the topic of discussion was whether the US was planning to overthrow the CCP regime or not. In China, diplomacy and domestic politics appear to be rapidly becoming one and the same.

Concerns over colour durability in the nineteenth-century industrial revolution: insights from John Ruskin’s teaching collection

The numerous new pigments that gradually became available to artists during the nineteenth-century Colour Revolution were received with contrasting attitudes. The initial enthusiasm for new chromatic possibilities was soon nuanced by concerns about the stability and performance of industrial materials. This study focuses on the work of John Ruskin, the famous art critic of Victorian England, whose artistic production was as impressive as his penmanship. Archival research into nineteenth-century literature is combined with material analyses with macro-XRF, XRD and FORS on a group of watercolours by Ruskin preserved at the Ashmolean Museum to determine his attitude towards pigment stability. The results show that he was very concerned with colour durability and chose his materials carefully, using the treatise Chromatography by the chemist George Field (first edition 1835) as guidance. The material analyses also provided new insight into the composition of specific pigments, revealing the use of a hitherto unreported cobalt-based blue.