The object of this master thesis are sporting mega-events. The research subject: comparison of expected and actual impacts (effects, legacy) of the II European Games held in Minsk in 2019. The goal of this study is to analyze the political, socio-economic, urban and media aspects and effects of the II European Games. The main tasks of the thesis are: reviewing the theoretical literature on the mega-events and their impact on politics, symbolic and real economy of cities and states that host these events; overviewing the issues of mega-events legacy evaluation, their 'soft power' and potential for political legitimization; analyzing the specific context of mega-events held in the countries of the former Socialist bloc; analyzing the political and cultural context of Belarus and image management measures undertaken by the country in the last 10-12 years - including during the World Hockey Championship in 2014; analyzing the process of event organization, specific features of PR-campaign and media-representation of the II European Games based on the official documents and state media; analyzing the range of responses to this event by the international and Belarusian independent media, as well as in social media; conducting and analyzing the expert interviews; analyzing of my own experience as a participant of the II European Games Opening Ceremony. This master thesis can be useful for mega-events researchers and organizers, sociologists, urbanists and cultural studies scholars, PR, media & communication professionals, creative industries actors, journalists and the general public.
The object of this master thesis are sporting mega-events. The research subject: comparison of expected and actual impacts (effects, legacy) of the II European Games held in Minsk in 2019. The goal of this study is to analyze the political, socio-economic, urban and media aspects and effects of the II European Games. The main tasks of the thesis are: reviewing the theoretical literature on the mega-events and their impact on politics, symbolic and real economy of cities and states that host these events; overviewing the issues of mega-events legacy evaluation, their 'soft power' and potential for political legitimization; analyzing the specific context of mega-events held in the countries of the former Socialist bloc; analyzing the political and cultural context of Belarus and image management measures undertaken by the country in the last 10-12 years - including during the World Hockey Championship in 2014; analyzing the process of event organization, specific features of PR-campaign and media-representation of the II European Games based on the official documents and state media; analyzing the range of responses to this event by the international and Belarusian independent media, as well as in social media; conducting and analyzing the expert interviews; analyzing of my own experience as a participant of the II European Games Opening Ceremony. This master thesis can be useful for mega-events researchers and organizers, sociologists, urbanists and cultural studies scholars, PR, media & communication professionals, creative industries actors, journalists and the general public.
The large cities of Lithuania have a varied experience in urban and operative planning. Vilnius, Kaunas and Siauliai had or still have municipal companies, ensuring operative planning, that is the preparation of various level territory planning documents and the monitoring the implementation of their solutions. Because there was no similar structure in Klaipeda all territory planning documents and studies were purchased on the market. It was noticed during the preparation of Klaipeda city municipality strategic plan for the years 2013-2020, that the planning process is inadequately coordinated. Klaipeda city municipality decided to pay more attention to the organizing function in urban planning. For this purpose, a new Urban planning section was created under the Urban development department. The operational guidelines of the new structural subdivision will cover formulating of planning assignments, supervision of the planning document preparation process, public's information and inclusion, discussions about planning solutions and the monitoring of their implementation. All of these stages will involve the community – citizens, businessmen, experts in various fields and politics – as equal partners.
The large cities of Lithuania have a varied experience in urban and operative planning. Vilnius, Kaunas and Siauliai had or still have municipal companies, ensuring operative planning, that is the preparation of various level territory planning documents and the monitoring the implementation of their solutions. Because there was no similar structure in Klaipeda all territory planning documents and studies were purchased on the market. It was noticed during the preparation of Klaipeda city municipality strategic plan for the years 2013-2020, that the planning process is inadequately coordinated. Klaipeda city municipality decided to pay more attention to the organizing function in urban planning. For this purpose, a new Urban planning section was created under the Urban development department. The operational guidelines of the new structural subdivision will cover formulating of planning assignments, supervision of the planning document preparation process, public's information and inclusion, discussions about planning solutions and the monitoring of their implementation. All of these stages will involve the community – citizens, businessmen, experts in various fields and politics – as equal partners.
In the last few years, a negative impact on the environmental values of the Lithuanian urban landscape was made by an increasingly growing urbanization: more densely situated buildings, growing areas of solid concrete or other surface, less and less space for greenery. Soon, roofs shall be equipped not only with antennas, but also with solar collectors and small wind turbines. All this will undoubtedly have an impact on the architectural expression of buildings and landscapes and in the near future, the impact will become even more significant. To achieve high aesthetic value and ecological stability of Lithuanian urban landscapes, the necessary number of studies are required as well as regulatory planning and legislative measures to guarantee the high quality of landscapes not only in the coming years, but in the long term as well. Dust and gas polluted air creates major threat to human health in urban areas. Atmospheric air saturated with harmful substances penetrates into residential housing, hospitals, educational institutions and classrooms, and industrial premises. Indoor air is saturated with chemicals and substances, such as xylene, benzene, formaldehyde, ammonia, acetone and others, are released by building materials and furniture. Besides, there is also human and bio-depleted air. Free planting of trees and shrubs, flowers, grass, balcony attached trays, and plants in pots at the premises is no longer sufficient in urban areas. Drastic architectural and urbanistic measures are required to help people in the city to restore the natural environment. We are children of nature and we have to move closer to it. To hide urban monotony, considerable efforts have to be made: plans – our friends – should take their places on building roofs and walls, balconies and terraces.
The aim of the thesis is to analyze theory, theoretical and built projects of an underground architecture and implement collected information in an architectural project. The reasoning for the design of an underground architecture usually lies in the context. Out of three types of context for an underground architecture – dense urban, historical and natural - highly sensitive natural context, Curonian Spit, is chosen. SPA center is designed in the territory of Kopgalis battery – the peaks of protective dune ridge are covered with the roof. Cavities are formed in the roof, through which the sand comes in and fill glass cones, designed according to the sand-fall studies. Sand-covered building not only preserves the landscape, gives meaning for the military heritage, but also conveys the most important feature of the Curonian Spit – its constant change, which manifests itself with the sand movement. Guidelines for the design of underground objects, visuality in architecture, the features of the Curonian Spit and sand features are also described in the analytical part.
The aim of the thesis is to analyze theory, theoretical and built projects of an underground architecture and implement collected information in an architectural project. The reasoning for the design of an underground architecture usually lies in the context. Out of three types of context for an underground architecture – dense urban, historical and natural - highly sensitive natural context, Curonian Spit, is chosen. SPA center is designed in the territory of Kopgalis battery – the peaks of protective dune ridge are covered with the roof. Cavities are formed in the roof, through which the sand comes in and fill glass cones, designed according to the sand-fall studies. Sand-covered building not only preserves the landscape, gives meaning for the military heritage, but also conveys the most important feature of the Curonian Spit – its constant change, which manifests itself with the sand movement. Guidelines for the design of underground objects, visuality in architecture, the features of the Curonian Spit and sand features are also described in the analytical part.
This work analyses creative placemaking – a comparitavely new term in Lithuania that has been popularised with I. Nagyte and E. Kaminskis publication "Creative placemaking" in 2016. Creative placemaking is extremely relevant today, when national as well as international strategic political agendas address communities as a vital part of sustainable society's development in urban and rural backgrounds. Although in Lithuania political infrastructure for creative placemaking is only in its initial stages, a few individual practical examples coming from personal initiatives and empirical experience allows to conduct an analysis and ivestigate the reasons behind the success and failure of different initiatives. This paper analyses one of the several successful placemaking components as well as a challange – comunity engagement in creative placemaking activities. Work aims at analysing creative placemaking management peculiarities and their connection to the community engagement through scrutinising four realised practical creative placemaking initiatives in Vilnius. By using comparative analysis and Mill's cannons of induction, 11 out of 15 theory based assumptions about creative placemaking management connection to community engagement were approved as important. Even though the used qualitative method is short to prove or deny the hypothesis about creative placemaking management determining community engagement, results of the comparative research does not reject the hypothesis, thus further studies are recommended in the further research directions section. Finally, based on the examined theory and comparative analysis results, 5 recommendations are formed to promote further creative placemaking studies and exploration of practical management tips for successful creative placemaking.
This work analyses creative placemaking – a comparitavely new term in Lithuania that has been popularised with I. Nagyte and E. Kaminskis publication "Creative placemaking" in 2016. Creative placemaking is extremely relevant today, when national as well as international strategic political agendas address communities as a vital part of sustainable society's development in urban and rural backgrounds. Although in Lithuania political infrastructure for creative placemaking is only in its initial stages, a few individual practical examples coming from personal initiatives and empirical experience allows to conduct an analysis and ivestigate the reasons behind the success and failure of different initiatives. This paper analyses one of the several successful placemaking components as well as a challange – comunity engagement in creative placemaking activities. Work aims at analysing creative placemaking management peculiarities and their connection to the community engagement through scrutinising four realised practical creative placemaking initiatives in Vilnius. By using comparative analysis and Mill's cannons of induction, 11 out of 15 theory based assumptions about creative placemaking management connection to community engagement were approved as important. Even though the used qualitative method is short to prove or deny the hypothesis about creative placemaking management determining community engagement, results of the comparative research does not reject the hypothesis, thus further studies are recommended in the further research directions section. Finally, based on the examined theory and comparative analysis results, 5 recommendations are formed to promote further creative placemaking studies and exploration of practical management tips for successful creative placemaking.
This work analyses creative placemaking – a comparitavely new term in Lithuania that has been popularised with I. Nagyte and E. Kaminskis publication "Creative placemaking" in 2016. Creative placemaking is extremely relevant today, when national as well as international strategic political agendas address communities as a vital part of sustainable society's development in urban and rural backgrounds. Although in Lithuania political infrastructure for creative placemaking is only in its initial stages, a few individual practical examples coming from personal initiatives and empirical experience allows to conduct an analysis and ivestigate the reasons behind the success and failure of different initiatives. This paper analyses one of the several successful placemaking components as well as a challange – comunity engagement in creative placemaking activities. Work aims at analysing creative placemaking management peculiarities and their connection to the community engagement through scrutinising four realised practical creative placemaking initiatives in Vilnius. By using comparative analysis and Mill's cannons of induction, 11 out of 15 theory based assumptions about creative placemaking management connection to community engagement were approved as important. Even though the used qualitative method is short to prove or deny the hypothesis about creative placemaking management determining community engagement, results of the comparative research does not reject the hypothesis, thus further studies are recommended in the further research directions section. Finally, based on the examined theory and comparative analysis results, 5 recommendations are formed to promote further creative placemaking studies and exploration of practical management tips for successful creative placemaking.
The demand for glassware in the northern part of Europe saw a marked growth only in the 16th century although the history of glassmaking goes back several millennia. The population of the Baltic region, including the city of Klaipėda (Memel in German), did not remain on the margins of the glass culture developments in the modern period. Glassware featuring plastic shapes, delicate silhouettes and transparent materials spread widely across the entire region and became an integral attribute of a daily life, sociocultural patterns, etiquette and even military art in a relatively short time. A great deal of archaeological investigations in different fields has been accomplished in Klaipėda, whilst daily life of Klaipėda in the modern period has attracted the least attention on the part of researchers thus far. We possess little knowledge on the old Klaipėda gastronomy and table culture, health practices, sociocultural life of urban population and cultural ties of the local population with other cities, countries and regions. The situation of Klaipėda as a port city accounts for a circulation of a greater variety of commodities in the city itself and also for a diversity in the patterns of use of such commodities, therefore perspectives of the city case analyses through the prism of the studies of glass artefacts provide a deeper glance into the problem, i.e. in addition to general knowledge on Klaipėda glass artefacts, an issue of the use of glassware in different walks of life of the city population in the modern period is dealt with representing an integral part of the expectations postulated in the contemporary science of archaeology. What kind of impact on sociocultural life of Klaipėda population in the modern period was made by other countries and regions: in what ways material-social and spiritual-cultural life of the urbanites was influenced, how and by what means diverse urban population groups created their identity and their sense of distinctiveness, – these are the questions that this work attempts to provide answers for, at least in part. A single case study, as a reference point, can bring a significant contribution to the analysis of sociocultural history of other cities and towns of the same period in the territory of present - day Lithuania or former Prussia. It is easy to notice that the amount of archaeological data is increasing annually, and research of protected artefacts is expanding, nonetheless, imbalances in the development of the chains of data collection, its systematisation and interpretation remain an acute issue in the archaeological research both in Klaipėda and in Lithuania as a whole. In keeping with a concept that a consistent research of discreet groups of artefacts is a key element in the studies of urban life of earlier periods, a special focus is given to the heretofore understudied glassware items of Klaipėda, of which little information is available today. This fact has provided an incentive to effectively address the accumulated problems on both methodological and theoretical levels. Glassware, unlike pottery ware, has been used in the Lithuanian archaeological practice to a lesser degree for the purpose of characterisation of archaeological layers and structures, and for the interpretation and evaluation of changes in urban development, historical facts and processes. Thus far, glassware finds in Lithuania have not been systemised, classified or dated in chronological order, neither harmonisation of glass terminology and data documentation system has been attained, hence the question regarding museum assets is actualised, with a special focus on why and what glass artefacts should be preserved and which ones should be regarded not as significant in terms of scientific research. The glassware research provides an opportunity to compare manufacturing technological advancements, the glass culture transformations, and the expansion of import geography in Klaipėda over a period exceeding 300 years. Furthermore, it is not for nothing that circulation of the glassware in the modern period is linked to the consumption of alcoholic beverages, involving the research of consumption patterns through the medium of glassware, which opens up prospects for tackling social issues brought about by alcohol consumption, the causes and possible solutions thereof the modern world is still seeking for. As a matter of fact, this research may present a value for a general public that holds an opinion that a form of individual expression, involving things or certain products, is a feature of a modern consumer only. It must be noted that glass artefacts and perspectives of their analysis have not been properly considered neither by archaeologists of Lithuania nor archaeologists of other south-eastern Baltic region countries, which has prevented an objective assessment of general trends in the development of glass culture across the entire Baltic region. The object of this research is the development of manufacturing, or craft production, techniques, otherwise known as manual glassblowing, of glassware and culture of its use in Klaipėda in the modern period.
The demand for glassware in the northern part of Europe saw a marked growth only in the 16th century although the history of glassmaking goes back several millennia. The population of the Baltic region, including the city of Klaipėda (Memel in German), did not remain on the margins of the glass culture developments in the modern period. Glassware featuring plastic shapes, delicate silhouettes and transparent materials spread widely across the entire region and became an integral attribute of a daily life, sociocultural patterns, etiquette and even military art in a relatively short time. A great deal of archaeological investigations in different fields has been accomplished in Klaipėda, whilst daily life of Klaipėda in the modern period has attracted the least attention on the part of researchers thus far. We possess little knowledge on the old Klaipėda gastronomy and table culture, health practices, sociocultural life of urban population and cultural ties of the local population with other cities, countries and regions. The situation of Klaipėda as a port city accounts for a circulation of a greater variety of commodities in the city itself and also for a diversity in the patterns of use of such commodities, therefore perspectives of the city case analyses through the prism of the studies of glass artefacts provide a deeper glance into the problem, i.e. in addition to general knowledge on Klaipėda glass artefacts, an issue of the use of glassware in different walks of life of the city population in the modern period is dealt with representing an integral part of the expectations postulated in the contemporary science of archaeology. What kind of impact on sociocultural life of Klaipėda population in the modern period was made by other countries and regions: in what ways material-social and spiritual-cultural life of the urbanites was influenced, how and by what means diverse urban population groups created their identity and their sense of distinctiveness, – these are the questions that this work attempts to provide answers for, at least in part. A single case study, as a reference point, can bring a significant contribution to the analysis of sociocultural history of other cities and towns of the same period in the territory of present - day Lithuania or former Prussia. It is easy to notice that the amount of archaeological data is increasing annually, and research of protected artefacts is expanding, nonetheless, imbalances in the development of the chains of data collection, its systematisation and interpretation remain an acute issue in the archaeological research both in Klaipėda and in Lithuania as a whole. In keeping with a concept that a consistent research of discreet groups of artefacts is a key element in the studies of urban life of earlier periods, a special focus is given to the heretofore understudied glassware items of Klaipėda, of which little information is available today. This fact has provided an incentive to effectively address the accumulated problems on both methodological and theoretical levels. Glassware, unlike pottery ware, has been used in the Lithuanian archaeological practice to a lesser degree for the purpose of characterisation of archaeological layers and structures, and for the interpretation and evaluation of changes in urban development, historical facts and processes. Thus far, glassware finds in Lithuania have not been systemised, classified or dated in chronological order, neither harmonisation of glass terminology and data documentation system has been attained, hence the question regarding museum assets is actualised, with a special focus on why and what glass artefacts should be preserved and which ones should be regarded not as significant in terms of scientific research. The glassware research provides an opportunity to compare manufacturing technological advancements, the glass culture transformations, and the expansion of import geography in Klaipėda over a period exceeding 300 years. Furthermore, it is not for nothing that circulation of the glassware in the modern period is linked to the consumption of alcoholic beverages, involving the research of consumption patterns through the medium of glassware, which opens up prospects for tackling social issues brought about by alcohol consumption, the causes and possible solutions thereof the modern world is still seeking for. As a matter of fact, this research may present a value for a general public that holds an opinion that a form of individual expression, involving things or certain products, is a feature of a modern consumer only. It must be noted that glass artefacts and perspectives of their analysis have not been properly considered neither by archaeologists of Lithuania nor archaeologists of other south-eastern Baltic region countries, which has prevented an objective assessment of general trends in the development of glass culture across the entire Baltic region. The object of this research is the development of manufacturing, or craft production, techniques, otherwise known as manual glassblowing, of glassware and culture of its use in Klaipėda in the modern period.
The demand for glassware in the northern part of Europe saw a marked growth only in the 16th century although the history of glassmaking goes back several millennia. The population of the Baltic region, including the city of Klaipėda (Memel in German), did not remain on the margins of the glass culture developments in the modern period. Glassware featuring plastic shapes, delicate silhouettes and transparent materials spread widely across the entire region and became an integral attribute of a daily life, sociocultural patterns, etiquette and even military art in a relatively short time. A great deal of archaeological investigations in different fields has been accomplished in Klaipėda, whilst daily life of Klaipėda in the modern period has attracted the least attention on the part of researchers thus far. We possess little knowledge on the old Klaipėda gastronomy and table culture, health practices, sociocultural life of urban population and cultural ties of the local population with other cities, countries and regions. The situation of Klaipėda as a port city accounts for a circulation of a greater variety of commodities in the city itself and also for a diversity in the patterns of use of such commodities, therefore perspectives of the city case analyses through the prism of the studies of glass artefacts provide a deeper glance into the problem, i.e. in addition to general knowledge on Klaipėda glass artefacts, an issue of the use of glassware in different walks of life of the city population in the modern period is dealt with representing an integral part of the expectations postulated in the contemporary science of archaeology. What kind of impact on sociocultural life of Klaipėda population in the modern period was made by other countries and regions: in what ways material-social and spiritual-cultural life of the urbanites was influenced, how and by what means diverse urban population groups created their identity and their sense of distinctiveness, – these are the questions that this work attempts to provide answers for, at least in part. A single case study, as a reference point, can bring a significant contribution to the analysis of sociocultural history of other cities and towns of the same period in the territory of present - day Lithuania or former Prussia. It is easy to notice that the amount of archaeological data is increasing annually, and research of protected artefacts is expanding, nonetheless, imbalances in the development of the chains of data collection, its systematisation and interpretation remain an acute issue in the archaeological research both in Klaipėda and in Lithuania as a whole. In keeping with a concept that a consistent research of discreet groups of artefacts is a key element in the studies of urban life of earlier periods, a special focus is given to the heretofore understudied glassware items of Klaipėda, of which little information is available today. This fact has provided an incentive to effectively address the accumulated problems on both methodological and theoretical levels. Glassware, unlike pottery ware, has been used in the Lithuanian archaeological practice to a lesser degree for the purpose of characterisation of archaeological layers and structures, and for the interpretation and evaluation of changes in urban development, historical facts and processes. Thus far, glassware finds in Lithuania have not been systemised, classified or dated in chronological order, neither harmonisation of glass terminology and data documentation system has been attained, hence the question regarding museum assets is actualised, with a special focus on why and what glass artefacts should be preserved and which ones should be regarded not as significant in terms of scientific research. The glassware research provides an opportunity to compare manufacturing technological advancements, the glass culture transformations, and the expansion of import geography in Klaipėda over a period exceeding 300 years. Furthermore, it is not for nothing that circulation of the glassware in the modern period is linked to the consumption of alcoholic beverages, involving the research of consumption patterns through the medium of glassware, which opens up prospects for tackling social issues brought about by alcohol consumption, the causes and possible solutions thereof the modern world is still seeking for. As a matter of fact, this research may present a value for a general public that holds an opinion that a form of individual expression, involving things or certain products, is a feature of a modern consumer only. It must be noted that glass artefacts and perspectives of their analysis have not been properly considered neither by archaeologists of Lithuania nor archaeologists of other south-eastern Baltic region countries, which has prevented an objective assessment of general trends in the development of glass culture across the entire Baltic region. The object of this research is the development of manufacturing, or craft production, techniques, otherwise known as manual glassblowing, of glassware and culture of its use in Klaipėda in the modern period.
The demand for glassware in the northern part of Europe saw a marked growth only in the 16th century although the history of glassmaking goes back several millennia. The population of the Baltic region, including the city of Klaipėda (Memel in German), did not remain on the margins of the glass culture developments in the modern period. Glassware featuring plastic shapes, delicate silhouettes and transparent materials spread widely across the entire region and became an integral attribute of a daily life, sociocultural patterns, etiquette and even military art in a relatively short time. A great deal of archaeological investigations in different fields has been accomplished in Klaipėda, whilst daily life of Klaipėda in the modern period has attracted the least attention on the part of researchers thus far. We possess little knowledge on the old Klaipėda gastronomy and table culture, health practices, sociocultural life of urban population and cultural ties of the local population with other cities, countries and regions. The situation of Klaipėda as a port city accounts for a circulation of a greater variety of commodities in the city itself and also for a diversity in the patterns of use of such commodities, therefore perspectives of the city case analyses through the prism of the studies of glass artefacts provide a deeper glance into the problem, i.e. in addition to general knowledge on Klaipėda glass artefacts, an issue of the use of glassware in different walks of life of the city population in the modern period is dealt with representing an integral part of the expectations postulated in the contemporary science of archaeology. What kind of impact on sociocultural life of Klaipėda population in the modern period was made by other countries and regions: in what ways material-social and spiritual-cultural life of the urbanites was influenced, how and by what means diverse urban population groups created their identity and their sense of distinctiveness, – these are the questions that this work attempts to provide answers for, at least in part. A single case study, as a reference point, can bring a significant contribution to the analysis of sociocultural history of other cities and towns of the same period in the territory of present - day Lithuania or former Prussia. It is easy to notice that the amount of archaeological data is increasing annually, and research of protected artefacts is expanding, nonetheless, imbalances in the development of the chains of data collection, its systematisation and interpretation remain an acute issue in the archaeological research both in Klaipėda and in Lithuania as a whole. In keeping with a concept that a consistent research of discreet groups of artefacts is a key element in the studies of urban life of earlier periods, a special focus is given to the heretofore understudied glassware items of Klaipėda, of which little information is available today. This fact has provided an incentive to effectively address the accumulated problems on both methodological and theoretical levels. Glassware, unlike pottery ware, has been used in the Lithuanian archaeological practice to a lesser degree for the purpose of characterisation of archaeological layers and structures, and for the interpretation and evaluation of changes in urban development, historical facts and processes. Thus far, glassware finds in Lithuania have not been systemised, classified or dated in chronological order, neither harmonisation of glass terminology and data documentation system has been attained, hence the question regarding museum assets is actualised, with a special focus on why and what glass artefacts should be preserved and which ones should be regarded not as significant in terms of scientific research. The glassware research provides an opportunity to compare manufacturing technological advancements, the glass culture transformations, and the expansion of import geography in Klaipėda over a period exceeding 300 years. Furthermore, it is not for nothing that circulation of the glassware in the modern period is linked to the consumption of alcoholic beverages, involving the research of consumption patterns through the medium of glassware, which opens up prospects for tackling social issues brought about by alcohol consumption, the causes and possible solutions thereof the modern world is still seeking for. As a matter of fact, this research may present a value for a general public that holds an opinion that a form of individual expression, involving things or certain products, is a feature of a modern consumer only. It must be noted that glass artefacts and perspectives of their analysis have not been properly considered neither by archaeologists of Lithuania nor archaeologists of other south-eastern Baltic region countries, which has prevented an objective assessment of general trends in the development of glass culture across the entire Baltic region. The object of this research is the development of manufacturing, or craft production, techniques, otherwise known as manual glassblowing, of glassware and culture of its use in Klaipėda in the modern period.
The greatest problems of the Lithuania country is facing are economic and social: there is an economic recession in the country; the country has lost its eastern markets for agricultural and industriaI products; the standard of living has declined after the political changes; and the crime rate is high. In terms of social development, rural disposable household income is lower than in Lithuania urban areas. In that respect, over-dependence on agriculture is equally a serious problem in rural areas demanding for a diversification of rural activities and employment opportunities. This will be increasingly important when the agriculture and processing sectors become more ef'ficient. Moreover, basic living conditions are comparatively poorer in rural areas than in the cities, and a tendency to ageing of rural population can be a threat to economic vitality. Social and economic changes taking places in Lithuania countryside are changing the problem of gender dimension. The goal of this research was to show the main aspects of leadership in the rural areas of Lithuania in the context oftoday's trade and gender dimension and integration. The main problems in rural areas are related to the current agrarian reform; people are motivated to start private farming, but they do not have enough resources. Rural people have also lost many of the social and communal services main- tained by big state and collective farms. The proportion of women in the totallabour force is high at 48 percent. However, forms of occupational sex segregation can be seen. In rural areas women are mainly involved in unskilled work in the fields, cowsheds, pig or poultry farms, or in social services. A special problem in rural areas is that the privatization of state and collective farms has led to the loss ofthe social services they supplied. If kindergartens are closed, it is difficult for women to have paid employment outside the home There is a great difference in the age structure of men and women in rural areas; in the oldest age group (over 65 years) there are many more women than meno The level of education is far lower in rural than in urban areas, and the educationallevel of rural women is lower than that of rural meno Although there is now more migration from cities to rural areas than vice versa, young and unmarried women have a tendency to move from rural areas to cities, or foreign countries. The greatest problems for rural women are economic and caused by unemployment or a heavy work load. Other problems are the lack of district hospitals, matemity clinics and pharmacies in rural areas and the fact that transportation costs to regional centres are high. It is al so problematic that there are no extension services in home economics, home management or in new job opportunities such as rural entrepreneurship or agrotourism. In addition, discrimination against women in employrnent persists. The transition period in society has been particularly difficult for women because of the threat ofunemployment and the diminishing social services (such as kindergardens). The statistical data show, that women representation in alllevels of govemmental structures of Lithuania Repub- lic is insufficient. Quite big gap between man and women possibilities, seekingprofessional career, and in gender equality in general is noticeable. This study assesses female and male leadership in Lithuania rural areas through analysis of interviews with govemment officials and recognized local leaders. Findings of previous community studies, which suggested that structural characteristics of communities influence their leadership patterns, have been incorporated into this study of gender. Key and action informant data were collected in all regions of rural Lithuania which differ in levels of urban presence and pressure. The findings revealed that men dominated rural leadership positions and were recognized as leaders more often than women, but that the gender ratios ofleaders, as well as the types ofwomen leaders who emer- ged, varied by site.
