The relevance of the study is determined by the nature, peculiarities of the course and the results of the ongoing color revolutions that lead to the destruction of the political systems of states, and even of the states themselves. The purpose of the study is to establish the content and attributes of a color revolution as a threat to the existence of the political system of the state. The work relies on the use of teleological analysis (in order to understand the meaning of color revolutions for states), the comparative method (in the context of a comparative study of the positions of scientists in determining color revolutions), and system-structural analysis (when identifying the signs of color revolutions). Since the practice of carrying out color revolutions in the world demonstrates that color revolutions are threats to the existence of the political system of the state, it is necessary to study the content and characteristics of color revolutions in order to form a mechanism for combating color revolutions, taking into account the nature and degree of danger of color revolutions in their concrete manifestation. The opinions of scientists about color revolutions were divided as the follows: some scientists consider color revolutions to be people's voice, true democracy, the others – a technology of coup d'état. The experience of the already accomplished and continuing color revolutions shows that the first position is more justified. Nonetheless, color revolutions are a multi-aspect phenomenon, including also non-violent methods of soft power, which should be taken into account in the content of the definition of color revolution. Taking into account discussions, opposing opinions of scientists on the content of this phenomenon, its role and significance, the article formulates the definition of color revolutions.
