The (SSH) impact discourses in Lithuania: blissful impactlessness versus imminent impact?

ENIn the SSH evaluation discourse in Lithuania the notion of impact is still emerging. The notion of value dominates. The discursive value-impact tension unfolds between two extremes - the emphasis of impact by research administrators and the resistance to it by the SSH community. The latter adapt the impact vocabulary only under pressure from the evaluation system in order to increase competitiveness or to avoid sanctions. The only impact most SSH scholars would naturally see focuses on the role SSH play in the preservation of national culture and statehood in the contemporary global world. Although this perspective resonates not only in the public opinion, but also in the political sphere, our analysis of the research evaluation criteria and practices suggests that the broader conception of the societal impact is imminent. Keywords: Lithuania; social sciences; humanities; societal impact; value; research evaluation.