Youth political organizations in Lithuania

ENThe article presents results of an empirical study of youth political organizations in Lithuania in 1999. Youth political organizations act behind their 'mother' political parties, and aim to promote the parties and their ideologies among the youth. The most important functions of these organizations are political socialization of youth, recruitment of new members to political parties, and resolution of youth problems. Young people enter youth political organizations either because of the future political career or pleasant leisure activities. Summarising, it could be said that youth political organizations are a significant indicator of an active civil society, that destroys the myth about the apolitical youth.