Lietuvos įvaizdis JAV spaudoje 1988-1991 metais
LTReikšminiai žodžiai: JAV; JAV politika; Lietuvos įvaizdis; Sovietinė okupacija; Spauda; Sąjūdis; Image of Lithuania; Lithuania; Sajudis; Soviet occupation; US policy; USA, media.
ENLate in the Soviet occupation that had lasted for many decades, Lithuania used the favorable conditions of Michail Gorbachev’s glasnost (openness) and perestroika (reconstruction) reforms to gain independence. National movements in the Baltics were widely covered in the U. S. press, and drew more and more attention with every little step towards independence. Articles from the Chicago Tribune, the New York Times, and the Washington Post were chosen for my research. The aim of this research is to reveal the image of Lithuania in the American press in the period between 1988 and 1991. The overall aim includes the following subsidiary objectives: to explore at what level radical political changes in Lithuania were covered by the American press; to evaluate the position of the American press and the President of the United States of America George H. Bush towards the independence of Lithuania; to analyze what position the United States took after Lithuania‘s blockade was announced by Moscow; and to determine how the positions of the American press, the President of the United States, and the West have changed after the events of January 13th 1991.The research revealed that in the beginning the Lithuanian national movement was covered not individually, but rather within the context of the Baltics. The evident support at the grassroots level caused the Reconstruction Movement of Lithuania to be considered as one of the most organized, and indeed the most successful, of the national movements in the Soviet Union. Bush delayed the recognition of the government of Lithuania after Lithuania had declared its independence because of his relationship with the Soviet Union. The U. S. press, Lithuanian-Americans, and Americans at large agreed the U. S. was in a position where it was easy not to recognize the independence of Lithuania, since this question had so long seemed utopian. Bush only expressed deep concern and did not take any measures after Moscow announced a blockade against Lithuania. Lithuanian- Americans strongly criticized such an attitude on the president’s part. The West turned toward Lithuania and decided to recognize its government only after the 13th of January 1991 and the events in Medininkai. Lithuania was strongly supported by the American press while President G. H. Bush was critisized for taking too long to recognize the Republic of Lithuania. [From the publication]
