Lietuvos užsienio politikos formavimo tapatybiniai veiksniai ; Lithuanian foreign policy formation and the factors of identity

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to reveal the relationship between the collective identity of Lithuanian foreign policy decision-makers, the concept of Lithuanian identity and national interests as articulated by these persons and particular foreign policy choices. Based on the constructivism theory of international relations, the paper formulates theoretical assumptions to research processes involved in foreign policy decision making and state identity formation. Aspects of the constructivism theory in international relations are examined and key ideas are highlighted and used in the analysis. The study distinguishes and addresses two main elements – the state identity and foreign policy decisions – by showing how the interaction of these elements enables to reveal the relationship between identity factors and foreign policy decision emergence and making. The formulated analysis principles allow to disclose how and what intersubjective values (identity perceptions) affect foreign policy decisions in practice. For this purpose, three Lithuanian foreign policy decisions are analyzed: 1) Lithuanian membership in NATO, 2) support for the US in the Iraq war, 3) formulation and realisation of the New Lithuanian Foreign Policy Concept (leadership in the region). Based on the results of empirical research, circumstances of Lithuanian foreign policy decision emergence and making are explained.