Suchergebnisse

Evolving threats to national security have resulted in the adoption of comprehensive (total) defence concepts by a number of small and medium states. Civil resistance constitutes a considerable part of such concepts, complementing military defence. The historical experience of Lithuania proved the value of nonviolent resistance between 1988 and 1991 for regaining independence, and defending it in January 1991. The aim of this article is to analyse the role of non-violent civil resistance in the national defence system, based on the experience of 13 January 1991 in Lithuania and develop further discussion about the concept of civil resistance. The methodological approach of the article is based on historical and theoretical analysis. This allows the experience of Lithuania to be assessed on the basis of Lithuanian National Security and Defence Strategy and scientific research. Lithuanian non-violent civil resistance in 1988–1991 was successful in terms of strategy, leadership, organisation, planning, non-violence priorities and the number of citizens involved. The leaders of the movement were able to mobilise people into a widespread movement based on their moral authority and value orientations, strongly appealing to different groups in society. Lithuania's independence was achieved with minimal human sacrifice, preserving the country's resources and infrastructure. This experience of non-violent civil resistance came to be used by modern state institutions to create strategic documents of the state. In the current situation, it is necessary to focus not only on the knowledge required for state defence and civil resistance, but also on its moral aspects such as values, ethical behaviour, civic and human maturity.

Evolving threats to national security have resulted in the adoption of comprehensive (total) defence concepts by a number of small and medium states. Civil resistance constitutes a considerable part of such concepts, complementing military defence. The historical experience of Lithuania proved the value of nonviolent resistance between 1988 and 1991 for regaining independence, and defending it in January 1991. The aim of this article is to analyse the role of non-violent civil resistance in the national defence system, based on the experience of 13 January 1991 in Lithuania and develop further discussion about the concept of civil resistance. The methodological approach of the article is based on historical and theoretical analysis. This allows the experience of Lithuania to be assessed on the basis of Lithuanian National Security and Defence Strategy and scientific research. Lithuanian non-violent civil resistance in 1988–1991 was successful in terms of strategy, leadership, organisation, planning, non-violence priorities and the number of citizens involved. The leaders of the movement were able to mobilise people into a widespread movement based on their moral authority and value orientations, strongly appealing to different groups in society. Lithuania's independence was achieved with minimal human sacrifice, preserving the country's resources and infrastructure. This experience of non-violent civil resistance came to be used by modern state institutions to create strategic documents of the state. In the current situation, it is necessary to focus not only on the knowledge required for state defence and civil resistance, but also on its moral aspects such as values, ethical behaviour, civic and human maturity.

The aim of this article is to research the development of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in the period between 1994 and 2004. During this period the Lithuanian National Defence System and the Lithuanian Armed Forces sought to ensure that full national defence capability was provided and, therefore, had to implement two very complicated tasks: to create and develop the nation's military forces while at the same time preparing them for Nato membership. The requirements of these two tasks were based on two different military paradigms: the modern and the post-modern. Following the end of the Cold War, the nature of national threats changed the paradigm of western armed forces, as well as that of Nato military doctrine. The changed mission envelope for the military forces of the democratic nations also led to changes in Nato's structure and organisation, and in the model being used in terms of professional competencies. In order to respond to sub-national threats, Nato members had to have small, professionally-trained and armed, manoeuvrable military forces which could be capable of conducting a wide range of military operations in various parts of the world. The development of the Lithuanian National Defence system was based on the perception of national threats and the mission which was given to the role of national defence, which required a completely different organisation and structure for the national armed forces, along with different staffing tasks. The contradiction inherent in these paradigms has led both to contradictions in the assessment of threats to national security and unsuccessful attempts to reconcile the principles of territorial and collective defence into a unified concept of state defence. This, in turn, has led to constant transformations in the structure of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and its military organisation and military personnel, as well as in the training for that Army of the Republic of Lithuania since 1990 personnel. The Lithuanian Armed Forces were being built from a state of gradula nulla and, therefore, those reforms which were simultaneously launched to integrate them into Nato's military capabilities were hampered by a lack of competent military personnel and the required levels of experience. Despite the difficulties faced during the ongoing processes, and the contradictions which those processes have generated, the Lithuanian Armed Forces did in fact manage to build up their military capabilities within the space of a decade, ending with the country becoming a member of the North Atlantic Alliance.

The current unpredictable security environment has replaced the security and defense policies of EU and NATO member states by focusing more on the challenges of societal resilience. The resilience of society is based on human nature for survival and isinfluenced by intangible entities and the spheres of human life. Education, as the engine of the progress of civilization, can become one of the most dangerous threats to the state and society, as well as one of the most important means of increasing society's resilience to modern threats. The modern education strategy of national governments focuses on quantitative indicators that do not reflect the security interests of the state, society and individuals. In such circumstances, education may pose the greatest threat to security. The consequences of such an "effective" but not universal education make society's resilience weak in the face of modern threats such as cyber-attacks, extremism, terrorism, corruption and so on.

The current unpredictable security environment has replaced the security and defense policies of EU and NATO member states by focusing more on the challenges of societal resilience. The resilience of society is based on human nature for survival and isinfluenced by intangible entities and the spheres of human life. Education, as the engine of the progress of civilization, can become one of the most dangerous threats to the state and society, as well as one of the most important means of increasing society's resilience to modern threats. The modern education strategy of national governments focuses on quantitative indicators that do not reflect the security interests of the state, society and individuals. In such circumstances, education may pose the greatest threat to security. The consequences of such an "effective" but not universal education make society's resilience weak in the face of modern threats such as cyber-attacks, extremism, terrorism, corruption and so on.

The current unpredictable security environment has replaced the security and defense policies of EU and NATO member states by focusing more on the challenges of societal resilience. The resilience of society is based on human nature for survival and isinfluenced by intangible entities and the spheres of human life. Education, as the engine of the progress of civilization, can become one of the most dangerous threats to the state and society, as well as one of the most important means of increasing society's resilience to modern threats. The modern education strategy of national governments focuses on quantitative indicators that do not reflect the security interests of the state, society and individuals. In such circumstances, education may pose the greatest threat to security. The consequences of such an "effective" but not universal education make society's resilience weak in the face of modern threats such as cyber-attacks, extremism, terrorism, corruption and so on.

The current unpredictable security environment has replaced the security and defense policies of EU and NATO member states by focusing more on the challenges of societal resilience. The resilience of society is based on human nature for survival and isinfluenced by intangible entities and the spheres of human life. Education, as the engine of the progress of civilization, can become one of the most dangerous threats to the state and society, as well as one of the most important means of increasing society's resilience to modern threats. The modern education strategy of national governments focuses on quantitative indicators that do not reflect the security interests of the state, society and individuals. In such circumstances, education may pose the greatest threat to security. The consequences of such an "effective" but not universal education make society's resilience weak in the face of modern threats such as cyber-attacks, extremism, terrorism, corruption and so on.

The current unpredictable security environment has replaced the security and defense policies of EU and NATO member states by focusing more on the challenges of societal resilience. The resilience of society is based on human nature for survival and is influenced by intangible entities and the spheres of human life. Education, as the engine of the progress of civilization, can become one of the most dangerous threats to the state and society, as well as one of the most important means of increasing society's resilience to modern threats. The modern education strategy of national governments focuses on quantitative indicators that do not reflect the security interests of the state, society and individuals. In such circumstances, education may pose the greatest threat to security. The consequences of such an "effective" but not universal education make society's resilience weak in the face of modern threats such as cyber-attacks, extremism, terrorism, corruption and so on.

Moral principles and norms of the society have to be the orientation for the human - being to behave in the right way as well as they are the reflection of human behaviour, conscious and relations. The difference between the ideal and the reality is creating the issues of morality. Moral issues were and they still are very interesting for the society and for military forces in particular. In the period of 1918-1940 Lithuanian military forces were creating their traditions and customs. But they were forming only traditional rituals without understanding of their meanings. Lithuanian higher officers and commander were trying to form military conscious but it was too difficult task for Lithuanian Army in such short period of Lithuanian independency. Other way the most educated officers tried to describe the main principles of military ethics and to understand the meaning of real professional moral values and military honour.[.]

Moral principles and norms of the society have to be the orientation for the human - being to behave in the right way as well as they are the reflection of human behaviour, conscious and relations. The difference between the ideal and the reality is creating the issues of morality. Moral issues were and they still are very interesting for the society and for military forces in particular. In the period of 1918-1940 Lithuanian military forces were creating their traditions and customs. But they were forming only traditional rituals without understanding of their meanings. Lithuanian higher officers and commander were trying to form military conscious but it was too difficult task for Lithuanian Army in such short period of Lithuanian independency. Other way the most educated officers tried to describe the main principles of military ethics and to understand the meaning of real professional moral values and military honour.[.]

Moral principles and norms of the society have to be the orientation for the human - being to behave in the right way as well as they are the reflection of human behaviour, conscious and relations. The difference between the ideal and the reality is creating the issues of morality. Moral issues were and they still are very interesting for the society and for military forces in particular. In the period of 1918-1940 Lithuanian military forces were creating their traditions and customs. But they were forming only traditional rituals without understanding of their meanings. Lithuanian higher officers and commander were trying to form military conscious but it was too difficult task for Lithuanian Army in such short period of Lithuanian independency. Other way the most educated officers tried to describe the main principles of military ethics and to understand the meaning of real professional moral values and military honour.[.]

Moral principles and norms of the society have to be the orientation for the human - being to behave in the right way as well as they are the reflection of human behaviour, conscious and relations. The difference between the ideal and the reality is creating the issues of morality. Moral issues were and they still are very interesting for the society and for military forces in particular. In the period of 1918-1940 Lithuanian military forces were creating their traditions and customs. But they were forming only traditional rituals without understanding of their meanings. Lithuanian higher officers and commander were trying to form military conscious but it was too difficult task for Lithuanian Army in such short period of Lithuanian independency. Other way the most educated officers tried to describe the main principles of military ethics and to understand the meaning of real professional moral values and military honour.[.]

The Voluntary National Defense Service (VNDS) of Lithuania was established in 17 January 1991 and began to operate in a difficult political and economic situation in the presence of Russian military forces deployed in Lithuania. The VNDS was tasked with ensuring the security of important state and economic entities, assisting the police in maintaining public order and territorial defense, as well as carrying out intelligence tasks throughout Lithuania. The main aim of the paper is to analyze the creation of military intelligence by the VNDS and the tasks they conducted from 1991 to 1993. Various methods were used to analyze the VNDS: case study, historical analysis, comparative historical, document analysis, data analysis and statistical content analysis. The paper establishes that the VNDS intelligence gathering structure and its development was influenced by the intelligence tasks assigned to the VNDS. The case study also reveals that the main function of the VNDS staff consisted of intelligence information gathering. In 1991, according to the VNDS standby logs analyzed in this study, 56 percent of information registered by the VNDS staff consisted of intelligence information and this information was gathered across 82 percent of Lithuanian districts. According to the data gathered in this study, it was proven that the VNDS was conducting military intelligence from 1991 to 1993. The case study is even more relevant since the current day Lithuanian Armed Forces are returning to the national territorial defense model due to the changes in current geopolitical situation. In the future, the role of the National Defense Volunteer Force (the NDVF), equivalent to the previous VNDS, will increase significantly, as the Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces has appointed these forces to carry out intelligence tasks for military operations.

The Voluntary National Defense Service (VNDS) of Lithuania was established in 17 January 1991 and began to operate in a difficult political and economic situation in the presence of Russian military forces deployed in Lithuania. The VNDS was tasked with ensuring the security of important state and economic entities, assisting the police in maintaining public order and territorial defense, as well as carrying out intelligence tasks throughout Lithuania. The main aim of the paper is to analyze the creation of military intelligence by the VNDS and the tasks they conducted from 1991 to 1993. Various methods were used to analyze the VNDS: case study, historical analysis, comparative historical, document analysis, data analysis and statistical content analysis. The paper establishes that the VNDS intelligence gathering structure and its development was influenced by the intelligence tasks assigned to the VNDS. The case study also reveals that the main function of the VNDS staff consisted of intelligence information gathering. In 1991, according to the VNDS standby logs analyzed in this study, 56 percent of information registered by the VNDS staff consisted of intelligence information and this information was gathered across 82 percent of Lithuanian districts. According to the data gathered in this study, it was proven that the VNDS was conducting military intelligence from 1991 to 1993. The case study is even more relevant since the current day Lithuanian Armed Forces are returning to the national territorial defense model due to the changes in current geopolitical situation. In the future, the role of the National Defense Volunteer Force (the NDVF), equivalent to the previous VNDS, will increase significantly, as the Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces has appointed these forces to carry out intelligence tasks for military operations.

The Voluntary National Defense Service (VNDS) of Lithuania was established in 17 January 1991 and began to operate in a difficult political and economic situation in the presence of Russian military forces deployed in Lithuania. The VNDS was tasked with ensuring the security of important state and economic entities, assisting the police in maintaining public order and territorial defense, as well as carrying out intelligence tasks throughout Lithuania. The main aim of the paper is to analyze the creation of military intelligence by the VNDS and the tasks they conducted from 1991 to 1993. Various methods were used to analyze the VNDS: case study, historical analysis, comparative historical, document analysis, data analysis and statistical content analysis. The paper establishes that the VNDS intelligence gathering structure and its development was influenced by the intelligence tasks assigned to the VNDS. The case study also reveals that the main function of the VNDS staff consisted of intelligence information gathering. In 1991, according to the VNDS standby logs analyzed in this study, 56 percent of information registered by the VNDS staff consisted of intelligence information and this information was gathered across 82 percent of Lithuanian districts. According to the data gathered in this study, it was proven that the VNDS was conducting military intelligence from 1991 to 1993. The case study is even more relevant since the current day Lithuanian Armed Forces are returning to the national territorial defense model due to the changes in current geopolitical situation. In the future, the role of the National Defense Volunteer Force (the NDVF), equivalent to the previous VNDS, will increase significantly, as the Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces has appointed these forces to carry out intelligence tasks for military operations.