Comedians winning elections in Eastern Europe Flashcards
(17 cards)
Which comedian became president of Ukraine in 2019?
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
How much of the vote did Zelenskyy get?
73%
Did Zelenskyy have a political background before running?
No, he was a comedian and actor
Which TV series did he play a comedian who became President of Ukraine?
Servant of the People
Who was voted in as a member of the Kaunas Municipality Council in 2011?
Arturas Orlauskas
Does Arturas Orlauskas have any political background
Minimal, but most famous for his comedy career in Lithuania
What was the name and nature of his party?
Servant of the people
What themes does his election illustrate in IR?
Populism
Crisis of traditional elites
Soft power and media
Democratic transitions in post-Soviet states
How does Constructivism explain Zelenskyy’s appeal?
reimagined leadership by rejecting traditional norms—fiction blurred with reality, shaping new political identities.
What would Realism warn about leaders like Zelenskyy?
Lack of experience may weaken state capacity during crises
How did Zelenskyy use media in his campaign?
He bypassed traditional media, using social platforms to connect with voters
Was there a similar figure in Slovenia?
Marjan Šarec, a former actor and satirist, became Prime Minister of Slovenia in 2018.
What would Liberalism emphasize about Zelenskyy’s election?
institutional openness, electoral competition, and democratic responsiveness even in post-Soviet states.
What international dynamics helped him?
disillusionment with corruption, desire for Western integration (EU/NATO), and frustration with the status quo.
Is this trend isolated to Eastern Europe?
: No—Beppe Grillo (Italy), Jimmy Morales (Guatemala), and Jon Gnarr (Iceland) also show global populist waves using satire and media.
What are the IR implications?
Demonstrates how domestic legitimacy, perceptions of leadership, and soft power narratives can shift political outcomes
Does this signal strength or weakness in democracy?
Both—it reflects voter empowerment and elite accountability, but also crises of institutional trust and vulnerability to populism.
