Suchergebnisse

This study analyses the situation of ethnic minorities in Lithuania with a particular focus on a region of South-Eastern Lithuania densely populated by ethnic minorities. Based on findings, the strategy 2018-2027 for policy on ethnic minorities is developed and an implementation mechanism described. Along with the mechanism scheme, the study offers an evaluation methodology with specific progress indicators. The international law defines an ethnic minority or an ethnic community as a group living in a state, which constitutes less than a half of the state's total population and differs from the majority by objective and subjective features such as language, religion, customs, culture etc. Many states use these characteristics to distinguish ethnic minorities in their national legislation. The Constitution of Lithuania guarantees ethnic minorities' rights to cherish their language, culture and traditions. The country has signed conventions for protection of rights of ethnic minorities and integrated its international commitments to the national law. Ethnic minorities in Lithuania have an opportunity to acquire education in their native tongue from a pre-school to a higher school; laws stipulate their freedom of expression, media, assembly, and association. It sums up in a generally good situation for ethnic minorities in Lithuania. However, a part of Russian-language media in Lithuania forms a sceptical attitude towards Lithuania, there is seen a favourability and priority for Russian's official position. As well as some media outlets of ethnic minorities have no capacity to facilitate advanced training for their journalists or editors by participating in educational sessions. Notably, quality media play a role of particular importance in outbalancing hostile propaganda and misinformation in current geopolitical situation by spreading impartial information. Therefore, Lithuanian media targeting ethnic minorities should be supported by implementing media literacy and propaganda immunity initiatives. Situated around the capital city which is the economic core of the country, the South-Eastern region could be the most economically developed part of the country according to global and EU trends. Yet, the analysis of the region indicates that it fares below the country's average by indicators such as foreign direct investments, entrepreneurship, unemployment, and average wage, especially in e.g. Šalčininkai district. The region is badly in need of more active government's engagement in its development. With these aspects and challenges taken into consideration, the proposed strategy 2018–2027 for policy on ethnic minorities includes following objectives:  to improve the informational environment of the ethnic minorities and reinforce their media;  to improve representation of ethnic minorities' interests;  to promote the social and economic development of the region of South-Eastern Lithuania;  to boost South-Eastern Lithuania's competitiveness through education and culture;  to strengthen community development in South-Eastern Lithuania. Implementation of each objective includes specific tasks. Importantly, objectives proposed for South-Eastern Lithuania are also suitable for other regions with numerous ethnic minority populations and for the entire country to enable well-balanced and sustainable development of all regions. The implementation thus does not need to be restricted to the South-Eastern region. The Department of Ethnic Minorities, the Ministries of Interior, Economy, Education and Science, and Culture, municipalities of Vilnius, Trakai, Šalčininkai and Švenčionys districts, NGOs, and other entities and individuals shall contribute to the implementation of the Strategy. The Strategy's objectives and tasks shall be implemented in the framework of the National Progress Programme, the Development Plan for Vilnius Region and other mid-term planning documents. The Department of Ethnic Minorities shall coordinate the implementation. If properly implemented, the aspiration of the Strategy is to make a decade-long contribution to resolving issues of regions with large ethnic minority populations and encouraging the social and economic development of these regions by ensuring ethnic minorities' better integration into the social, economic and cultural life of Lithuania and, at the same time, preserving their identities.

This study analyses the situation of ethnic minorities in Lithuania with a particular focus on a region of South-Eastern Lithuania densely populated by ethnic minorities. Based on findings, the strategy 2018-2027 for policy on ethnic minorities is developed and an implementation mechanism described. Along with the mechanism scheme, the study offers an evaluation methodology with specific progress indicators. The international law defines an ethnic minority or an ethnic community as a group living in a state, which constitutes less than a half of the state's total population and differs from the majority by objective and subjective features such as language, religion, customs, culture etc. Many states use these characteristics to distinguish ethnic minorities in their national legislation. The Constitution of Lithuania guarantees ethnic minorities' rights to cherish their language, culture and traditions. The country has signed conventions for protection of rights of ethnic minorities and integrated its international commitments to the national law. Ethnic minorities in Lithuania have an opportunity to acquire education in their native tongue from a pre-school to a higher school; laws stipulate their freedom of expression, media, assembly, and association. It sums up in a generally good situation for ethnic minorities in Lithuania. However, a part of Russian-language media in Lithuania forms a sceptical attitude towards Lithuania, there is seen a favourability and priority for Russian's official position. As well as some media outlets of ethnic minorities have no capacity to facilitate advanced training for their journalists or editors by participating in educational sessions. Notably, quality media play a role of particular importance in outbalancing hostile propaganda and misinformation in current geopolitical situation by spreading impartial information. Therefore, Lithuanian media targeting ethnic minorities should be supported by implementing media literacy and propaganda immunity initiatives. Situated around the capital city which is the economic core of the country, the South-Eastern region could be the most economically developed part of the country according to global and EU trends. Yet, the analysis of the region indicates that it fares below the country's average by indicators such as foreign direct investments, entrepreneurship, unemployment, and average wage, especially in e.g. Šalčininkai district. The region is badly in need of more active government's engagement in its development. With these aspects and challenges taken into consideration, the proposed strategy 2018–2027 for policy on ethnic minorities includes following objectives:  to improve the informational environment of the ethnic minorities and reinforce their media;  to improve representation of ethnic minorities' interests;  to promote the social and economic development of the region of South-Eastern Lithuania;  to boost South-Eastern Lithuania's competitiveness through education and culture;  to strengthen community development in South-Eastern Lithuania. Implementation of each objective includes specific tasks. Importantly, objectives proposed for South-Eastern Lithuania are also suitable for other regions with numerous ethnic minority populations and for the entire country to enable well-balanced and sustainable development of all regions. The implementation thus does not need to be restricted to the South-Eastern region. The Department of Ethnic Minorities, the Ministries of Interior, Economy, Education and Science, and Culture, municipalities of Vilnius, Trakai, Šalčininkai and Švenčionys districts, NGOs, and other entities and individuals shall contribute to the implementation of the Strategy. The Strategy's objectives and tasks shall be implemented in the framework of the National Progress Programme, the Development Plan for Vilnius Region and other mid-term planning documents. The Department of Ethnic Minorities shall coordinate the implementation. If properly implemented, the aspiration of the Strategy is to make a decade-long contribution to resolving issues of regions with large ethnic minority populations and encouraging the social and economic development of these regions by ensuring ethnic minorities' better integration into the social, economic and cultural life of Lithuania and, at the same time, preserving their identities.

One of the specific features of many post-Soviet cities is their multi-ethnic structure, which was strongly influenced by internal migrations within the Soviet Union. Political and economic reforms in the 1990s led to changes in ethnic composition, and the attention given to the processes of ethnic-segregation has started to increase. While most studies focus on capital cities, much less is known about second-tier cities. This article examines the interrelationships between ethnic and social segregation in the metropolitan areas of Lithuania (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda). The authors use Lithuanian census data from the years 2001 and 2011 to obtain insight into the recent changes in the socio-spatial differentiation of the largest ethnic groups: Lithuanians, Poles, and Russians. The results show a clear relationship between the socio-economic and ethnic status of the residents of metropolitan areas and, therefore, suggest that ethnic segregation is strongly linked to the general processes of social segregation. The findings also show that the higher the proportion of a certain ethnic minority group in an area, the higher the proportion of lower (social) status residents in this group. In addition, in such cases, ethnic minorities often tend to concentrate in particular areas within the cities.

One of the specific features of many post-Soviet cities is their multi-ethnic structure, which was strongly influenced by internal migrations within the Soviet Union. Political and economic reforms in the 1990s led to changes in ethnic composition, and the attention given to the processes of ethnic-segregation has started to increase. While most studies focus on capital cities, much less is known about second-tier cities. This article examines the interrelationships between ethnic and social segregation in the metropolitan areas of Lithuania (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda). The authors use Lithuanian census data from the years 2001 and 2011 to obtain insight into the recent changes in the socio-spatial differentiation of the largest ethnic groups: Lithuanians, Poles, and Russians. The results show a clear relationship between the socio-economic and ethnic status of the residents of metropolitan areas and, therefore, suggest that ethnic segregation is strongly linked to the general processes of social segregation. The findings also show that the higher the proportion of a certain ethnic minority group in an area, the higher the proportion of lower (social) status residents in this group. In addition, in such cases, ethnic minorities often tend to concentrate in particular areas within the cities.

One of the specific features of many post-Soviet cities is their multi-ethnic structure, which was strongly influenced by internal migrations within the Soviet Union. Political and economic reforms in the 1990s led to changes in ethnic composition, and the attention given to the processes of ethnic-segregation has started to increase. While most studies focus on capital cities, much less is known about second-tier cities. This article examines the interrelationships between ethnic and social segregation in the metropolitan areas of Lithuania (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda). The authors use Lithuanian census data from the years 2001 and 2011 to obtain insight into the recent changes in the socio-spatial differentiation of the largest ethnic groups: Lithuanians, Poles, and Russians. The results show a clear relationship between the socio-economic and ethnic status of the residents of metropolitan areas and, therefore, suggest that ethnic segregation is strongly linked to the general processes of social segregation. The findings also show that the higher the proportion of a certain ethnic minority group in an area, the higher the proportion of lower (social) status residents in this group. In addition, in such cases, ethnic minorities often tend to concentrate in particular areas within the cities.

One of the specific features of many post-Soviet cities is their multi-ethnic structure, which was strongly influenced by internal migrations within the Soviet Union. Political and economic reforms in the 1990s led to changes in ethnic composition, and the attention given to the processes of ethnic-segregation has started to increase. While most studies focus on capital cities, much less is known about second-tier cities. This article examines the interrelationships between ethnic and social segregation in the metropolitan areas of Lithuania (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda). The authors use Lithuanian census data from the years 2001 and 2011 to obtain insight into the recent changes in the socio-spatial differentiation of the largest ethnic groups: Lithuanians, Poles, and Russians. The results show a clear relationship between the socio-economic and ethnic status of the residents of metropolitan areas and, therefore, suggest that ethnic segregation is strongly linked to the general processes of social segregation. The findings also show that the higher the proportion of a certain ethnic minority group in an area, the higher the proportion of lower (social) status residents in this group. In addition, in such cases, ethnic minorities often tend to concentrate in particular areas within the cities.

The work was made by Andrius Bakštonas, Political sociology master's degree extramural student of VPU Social sciences faculty Sociology and political sciences department. The purpose of investigation was to research the role of ethnical culture to the development of country tourism. These hypotheses were hypothesized in the work: 1. According to respondents' opinion, the structure of Lithuania's tourism is suitable for upholding of the ethnical culture and the country tourism is appreciable as one of the basic ways that helps to uphold the ethnical culture. 2. The main elements of ethnical culture, that motivates to choose the country tourism are nature (the forest, the water body), the distant civilization. 3. Three social groups of respondents' (the owners of the country granges, holidaymakers and country folks) appreciate the adaptability of ethnical culture elements (architectural heritage, nutrition heritage, cultural heritage) in developing of country tourism differently. There were 110 respondents questioned during the investigation that was performed in region of Vilnius. The analysis of the investigation was made depending on common respondents' answers and on answers of different respondents' groups (respondents were marshaled depending on their social status to three groups: the owners of the country granges, holidaymakers and country folks). There was made the analysis of the results of investigation information and it emerged that hypotheses: 1. According to respondents' opinion, the structure of Lithuania's tourism is suitable for upholding of the ethnical culture and the country tourism is appreciable as one of the basic ways that helps to uphold the ethnical culture, is proved; 2. The main elements of ethnical culture, that motivates to choose the country tourism are nature (the forest, the water body), the distant civilization, is proved; 3. Three social groups of respondents' (the owners of the country granges, holidaymakers and country folks) appreciate the adaptability of ethnical culture elements (architectural heritage, nutrition heritage, cultural heritage) in developing of country tourism differently, is proved.

The work was made by Andrius Bakštonas, Political sociology master's degree extramural student of VPU Social sciences faculty Sociology and political sciences department. The purpose of investigation was to research the role of ethnical culture to the development of country tourism. These hypotheses were hypothesized in the work: 1. According to respondents' opinion, the structure of Lithuania's tourism is suitable for upholding of the ethnical culture and the country tourism is appreciable as one of the basic ways that helps to uphold the ethnical culture. 2. The main elements of ethnical culture, that motivates to choose the country tourism are nature (the forest, the water body), the distant civilization. 3. Three social groups of respondents' (the owners of the country granges, holidaymakers and country folks) appreciate the adaptability of ethnical culture elements (architectural heritage, nutrition heritage, cultural heritage) in developing of country tourism differently. There were 110 respondents questioned during the investigation that was performed in region of Vilnius. The analysis of the investigation was made depending on common respondents' answers and on answers of different respondents' groups (respondents were marshaled depending on their social status to three groups: the owners of the country granges, holidaymakers and country folks). There was made the analysis of the results of investigation information and it emerged that hypotheses: 1. According to respondents' opinion, the structure of Lithuania's tourism is suitable for upholding of the ethnical culture and the country tourism is appreciable as one of the basic ways that helps to uphold the ethnical culture, is proved; 2. The main elements of ethnical culture, that motivates to choose the country tourism are nature (the forest, the water body), the distant civilization, is proved; 3. Three social groups of respondents' (the owners of the country granges, holidaymakers and country folks) appreciate the adaptability of ethnical culture elements (architectural heritage, nutrition heritage, cultural heritage) in developing of country tourism differently, is proved.

The thesis defines the concept of ethnic hatred, identifies the causes of the of the formation of the ethnic intolerance and analyzes the policy of the ethnic minoritys. The second part of the paper examines and compares the Roma ethnic minority in Lithuania and the European Union.

The thesis defines the concept of ethnic hatred, identifies the causes of the of the formation of the ethnic intolerance and analyzes the policy of the ethnic minoritys. The second part of the paper examines and compares the Roma ethnic minority in Lithuania and the European Union.

The article analyzes the European Union's influence on the political participation of ethnic minorities in first and second European elections held after Lithuania's accession to the EU in 2004 and 2009. The author provides a brief theoretical overview of the EU's influence on Member States regarding ethnic minority policy, representation of ethnic minorities and ethnic minority participation in the politics. Analysis of the programs and strategies to attract voters in European Parliament elections of political parties representing ethnic minorities finds that the European issues and European values hadn't significant effect (with exceptions in 2009) on electoral programs and patterns of political participation. However, Polish and Russian ethnic minority political parties in shaping the strategies of the coalition or joint electoral list in 2004 and 2009 EP elections were not directly intended to win seats in the EP, but testing these strategies for the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2004 and municipal council elections in 2011.

The article analyzes the European Union's influence on the political participation of ethnic minorities in first and second European elections held after Lithuania's accession to the EU in 2004 and 2009. The author provides a brief theoretical overview of the EU's influence on Member States regarding ethnic minority policy, representation of ethnic minorities and ethnic minority participation in the politics. Analysis of the programs and strategies to attract voters in European Parliament elections of political parties representing ethnic minorities finds that the European issues and European values hadn't significant effect (with exceptions in 2009) on electoral programs and patterns of political participation. However, Polish and Russian ethnic minority political parties in shaping the strategies of the coalition or joint electoral list in 2004 and 2009 EP elections were not directly intended to win seats in the EP, but testing these strategies for the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2004 and municipal council elections in 2011.

The article analyzes the European Union's influence on the political participation of ethnic minorities in first and second European elections held after Lithuania's accession to the EU in 2004 and 2009. The author provides a brief theoretical overview of the EU's influence on Member States regarding ethnic minority policy, representation of ethnic minorities and ethnic minority participation in the politics. Analysis of the programs and strategies to attract voters in European Parliament elections of political parties representing ethnic minorities finds that the European issues and European values hadn't significant effect (with exceptions in 2009) on electoral programs and patterns of political participation. However, Polish and Russian ethnic minority political parties in shaping the strategies of the coalition or joint electoral list in 2004 and 2009 EP elections were not directly intended to win seats in the EP, but testing these strategies for the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2004 and municipal council elections in 2011.

The article analyzes the European Union's influence on the political participation of ethnic minorities in first and second European elections held after Lithuania's accession to the EU in 2004 and 2009. The author provides a brief theoretical overview of the EU's influence on Member States regarding ethnic minority policy, representation of ethnic minorities and ethnic minority participation in the politics. Analysis of the programs and strategies to attract voters in European Parliament elections of political parties representing ethnic minorities finds that the European issues and European values hadn't significant effect (with exceptions in 2009) on electoral programs and patterns of political participation. However, Polish and Russian ethnic minority political parties in shaping the strategies of the coalition or joint electoral list in 2004 and 2009 EP elections were not directly intended to win seats in the EP, but testing these strategies for the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2004 and municipal council elections in 2011.

The article analyzes the European Union's influence on the political participation of ethnic minorities in first and second European elections held after Lithuania's accession to the EU in 2004 and 2009. The author provides a brief theoretical overview of the EU's influence on Member States regarding ethnic minority policy, representation of ethnic minorities and ethnic minority participation in the politics. Analysis of the programs and strategies to attract voters in European Parliament elections of political parties representing ethnic minorities finds that the European issues and European values hadn't significant effect (with exceptions in 2009) on electoral programs and patterns of political participation. However, Polish and Russian ethnic minority political parties in shaping the strategies of the coalition or joint electoral list in 2004 and 2009 EP elections were not directly intended to win seats in the EP, but testing these strategies for the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2004 and municipal council elections in 2011.