Performing protest and representation? Exploring citizens’ perceptions of parliament in Ukraine

Abstract

This research departs from conventional studies of citizen's attitudes to parliament by utilising focus groups to interrogate the incredibly low levels of trust in Ukraine's parliament during the Yanukovych and Poroshenko presidencies and explores how far they are related to the exceptionally high levels of disruptive protest in the chamber. Low trust is shaped primarily by citizens' concerns about corruption, particularly the role of FIGs and of deputies' rapacious and lawless behaviour (bezpredel). Disruptive protests were largely seen as inauthentic. Low trust was accompanied by support for democracy.