Lithuania : civic society and democratic orientation
LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Baltijos valstybės; Lietuvaldemokratija; Perėjimas; Piliečiai, pilietinė visuomenė, poltinis dalyvavimas, demokratija; Visuomenė; Baltic stares; Citizens, civil society, political participation, democracy; Democracy; Lithuania; Society; Transition.
ENMore than a decade after the beginning of the transformation process in Lithuania, the economy and politics are restructured and private ownership and a multiparty system are successfully established. Since 1990, three parliamentary elections, three presidential elections and five municipal elections have been held. In a country with 3.5 million inhabitants and about 2.3 million registered voters, the number of political parties reached 36 in 2002. Private owners manage more than 80 percent of Lithuanian companies. Lithuania re-introduced her national currency in 1993 and restored membership in major international organizations. In 1991, Lithuania expressed the wish to join the EU and the NATO, was invited to join both organizations in 2002, and subsequently attained full membership. How do Lithuanian citizens perceive these changes? Certainly, the transformation process is influencing and partly changing their values, beliefs, attitudes and life plans. Currently, a majority supports economic reforms and the establishment of a multi-party system, despite individual economic hardships and increasing social differentiation. In order to understand current characteristics of the belief system of Lithuanians, we should also bear in mind the social context. Increasing social differentiation in Lithuanian society influences short-term attitudes and goals as well as more stable structures, such as value orientations. [Extract, p. 256]
