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.

This article is devoted to the analysis of tolerance towards national minorities in Lithuania. The article combines the analysis of the phenomenon of tolerance as a core social value and the analysis of empirical evidence of tolerance in the Lithuanian society. The scientific investigation of empirical situation is based on the secondary analysis of sociological data. Tolerance is one of the social values that are present and protected in modern multicultural democratic societies. Even thought the level of social tolerance varies from country to country and within time periods, Europe remains a perfect example of practices of social tolerance. In general, the level of tolerance is altering and depends on many factors, such as the level of urbanisation, multiculturalism, historical development, the development of the state, etc. In this article, the factors of multiculturalism and urbanisation are analysed in a more precise manner. Lithuania, due to its historical experience and geopolitical situation, is one of the European countries that are multicultural and have a long history of national minorities living in the country. According to the data of sociological research, the majority of the Lithuanian population is tolerant towards national minorities. Even though one third of the population express some kind of negative attitudes towards national minorities, it is necessary to stress that these negative attitudes are almost absent in everyday life of the society.

This article is devoted to the analysis of tolerance towards national minorities in Lithuania. The article combines the analysis of the phenomenon of tolerance as a core social value and the analysis of empirical evidence of tolerance in the Lithuanian society. The scientific investigation of empirical situation is based on the secondary analysis of sociological data. Tolerance is one of the social values that are present and protected in modern multicultural democratic societies. Even thought the level of social tolerance varies from country to country and within time periods, Europe remains a perfect example of practices of social tolerance. In general, the level of tolerance is altering and depends on many factors, such as the level of urbanisation, multiculturalism, historical development, the development of the state, etc. In this article, the factors of multiculturalism and urbanisation are analysed in a more precise manner. Lithuania, due to its historical experience and geopolitical situation, is one of the European countries that are multicultural and have a long history of national minorities living in the country. According to the data of sociological research, the majority of the Lithuanian population is tolerant towards national minorities. Even though one third of the population express some kind of negative attitudes towards national minorities, it is necessary to stress that these negative attitudes are almost absent in everyday life of the society.

The aim of work – to reveal peculiarities of legal education at national minorities school. The object of this work – national minorities schoolchild's analysis of an essay by legal education aspect. Scientific and methodical literature was going to reach the aim, was used a qualitative research – essays analysis. Tasks of the work: 1) To scrutinize the terms of legal education and national minorities; 2) To review the main laws which regulates the legal education of the school of national minorities; 3) To explore schoolchild's consciousness at written work. The first part of this paper explore the terms of the education and legal education. Besides, will be analysed the legislation of legal education. The second part tries to scrutinize the term of national minority and to review the main laws which regulates the legal education of the school of national minorities. The third part explores an essays of schoolchild's by legal education aspect. Conclusions of this work state that the national minorities schoolchild believe themselves as the citizens of Lithuania. Their civil self-consciousness is in conformity with the rules initiated in State.

The aim of work – to reveal peculiarities of legal education at national minorities school. The object of this work – national minorities schoolchild's analysis of an essay by legal education aspect. Scientific and methodical literature was going to reach the aim, was used a qualitative research – essays analysis. Tasks of the work: 1) To scrutinize the terms of legal education and national minorities; 2) To review the main laws which regulates the legal education of the school of national minorities; 3) To explore schoolchild's consciousness at written work. The first part of this paper explore the terms of the education and legal education. Besides, will be analysed the legislation of legal education. The second part tries to scrutinize the term of national minority and to review the main laws which regulates the legal education of the school of national minorities. The third part explores an essays of schoolchild's by legal education aspect. Conclusions of this work state that the national minorities schoolchild believe themselves as the citizens of Lithuania. Their civil self-consciousness is in conformity with the rules initiated in State.

Situation of national minorities is analyzed in this final work. Most of modern world states are homogeneous no more for a long time already. That also includes Lithuanian Republic, where there is about 20 per cent of society of non Lithuanian nationality people. The most national minorities in Lithuania and neighbor countries of Latvia and Poland are Russian, Pole, Byelorussian and representatives of other national groups. That is why it is very important those countries to be equally vouched with laws to all citizenry and that effective security policy of national minorities would have been also pursued. The main problem of national minorities is that all legislators often try to delay the enactment of new laws and some adequate institutions are working not so effectively, when political, economical and social conditions change. It is very hard for national minorities to protect one's own rights, because it's difficult to prove the fact of discrimination, moreover, courts are tended to explain the rules, which vouches rights and freedoms, constrictively. The main purpose of this comparison research was to reveal the legal status of present national minorities in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, to compare enacted rules of those states, which regulate the questions of national minorities and main problems that appear. Finally, the goal was to give recommendations on law and other rules corrections, which could solve those problems. After analyzing the rules of national minorities in neighborhood of Latvia and Poland, we could make a conclusion, that the status of Lithuania's national minorities is fairly regulated by laws, however, there are areas, where it is necessary to fix, improve and initiate new projects of deeds, in order the status of national minorities to be moved on ahead in our society.

Situation of national minorities is analyzed in this final work. Most of modern world states are homogeneous no more for a long time already. That also includes Lithuanian Republic, where there is about 20 per cent of society of non Lithuanian nationality people. The most national minorities in Lithuania and neighbor countries of Latvia and Poland are Russian, Pole, Byelorussian and representatives of other national groups. That is why it is very important those countries to be equally vouched with laws to all citizenry and that effective security policy of national minorities would have been also pursued. The main problem of national minorities is that all legislators often try to delay the enactment of new laws and some adequate institutions are working not so effectively, when political, economical and social conditions change. It is very hard for national minorities to protect one's own rights, because it's difficult to prove the fact of discrimination, moreover, courts are tended to explain the rules, which vouches rights and freedoms, constrictively. The main purpose of this comparison research was to reveal the legal status of present national minorities in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, to compare enacted rules of those states, which regulate the questions of national minorities and main problems that appear. Finally, the goal was to give recommendations on law and other rules corrections, which could solve those problems. After analyzing the rules of national minorities in neighborhood of Latvia and Poland, we could make a conclusion, that the status of Lithuania's national minorities is fairly regulated by laws, however, there are areas, where it is necessary to fix, improve and initiate new projects of deeds, in order the status of national minorities to be moved on ahead in our society.

This article is devoted to the analysis of tolerance towards national minorities in Lithuania. The article combines the analysis of the phenomenon of tolerance as a core social value and the analysis of empirical evidence of tolerance in the Lithuanian society. The scientific investigation of empirical situation is based on the secondary analysis of sociological data. Tolerance is one of the social values that are present and protected in modern multicultural democratic societies. Even thought the level of social tolerance varies from country to country and within time periods, Europe remains a perfect example of practices of social tolerance. In general, the level of tolerance is altering and depends on many factors, such as the level of urbanisation, multiculturalism, historical development, the development of the state, etc. In this article, the factors of multiculturalism and urbanisation are analysed in a more precise manner. Lithuania, due to its historical experience and geopolitical situation, is one of the European countries that are multicultural and have a long history of national minorities living in the country. According to the data of sociological research, the majority of the Lithuanian population is tolerant towards national minorities. Even though one third of the population express some kind of negative attitudes towards national minorities, it is necessary to stress that these negative attitudes are almost absent in everyday life of the society. ; Straipsnyje nagrinėjama tolerancijos, kaip pamatinės socialinės vertybės, samprata ir jos raiška Lietuvos visuomenėje. Tolerancija "kitokiems" visuomenės nariams neabejotinai yra vienas svarbiausių demokratinių Europos visuomenių vertybinių sistemų elementų. Tolerancijos lygis yra kintantis ir priklauso nuo daugybės veiksnių. Šiame straipsnyje ypač daug dėmesio skiriama urbanizacijos, daugiatautiškumo ir tautinės tolerancijos sąsajoms. Nagrinėjant Lietuvos situaciją, remiamasi pastarųjų metų sociologiniais tyrimais, nagrinėjamas tautinės sanklodos Vilniuje ir visoje Lietuvoje kitimas bei susiformavusios bendrabūvio tradicijos.

In the last 20 years, after ethnic Germans came back to this country and other refugees started flowing to it, the debates about immigration became especially important among politicians. After World War II, people left their home countries and searched refuge in other countries. Germany was one of those countries where refugees sought asylum. Germany received such people because its industry needed labourers. The question of the integration of immigrants became the priority of the state. We can single out five phases of immigration into Germany: (1) Post- War Immigration in 1945 – 1954, (2) Guest Workers' Immigration in 1955 – 1973, (3) Family Reunification in 1974 – 1982, (4) Asylum and Refugee Immigration in 1983 – 1993, and (5) Immigration caused by the development of the European Union and Inflows of Ethnic Germans since 1988 until nowadays.

In the last 20 years, after ethnic Germans came back to this country and other refugees started flowing to it, the debates about immigration became especially important among politicians. After World War II, people left their home countries and searched refuge in other countries. Germany was one of those countries where refugees sought asylum. Germany received such people because its industry needed labourers. The question of the integration of immigrants became the priority of the state. We can single out five phases of immigration into Germany: (1) Post- War Immigration in 1945 – 1954, (2) Guest Workers' Immigration in 1955 – 1973, (3) Family Reunification in 1974 – 1982, (4) Asylum and Refugee Immigration in 1983 – 1993, and (5) Immigration caused by the development of the European Union and Inflows of Ethnic Germans since 1988 until nowadays.

In the last 20 years, after ethnic Germans came back to this country and other refugees started flowing to it, the debates about immigration became especially important among politicians. After World War II, people left their home countries and searched refuge in other countries. Germany was one of those countries where refugees sought asylum. Germany received such people because its industry needed labourers. The question of the integration of immigrants became the priority of the state. We can single out five phases of immigration into Germany: (1) Post- War Immigration in 1945 – 1954, (2) Guest Workers' Immigration in 1955 – 1973, (3) Family Reunification in 1974 – 1982, (4) Asylum and Refugee Immigration in 1983 – 1993, and (5) Immigration caused by the development of the European Union and Inflows of Ethnic Germans since 1988 until nowadays.

Experts state that Lithuania remains one of the most intolerant countries in Europe. Intolerance towards some specific social minorities is extremely high. Prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination are a concurrent in many minorities' daily life. Discrimination has a negative influence not only on the discriminated but also on the society as such. There is a lack of studies analyzing the causes and sequences of discriminatory beliefs and behaviors in Lithuania. There is neither a real integral conception of minorities nor a systemic approach to minorities' problems and possibilities to solve them. This ends in inaccurate preventive and interventional measures. The object of this work was to survey equal opportunities and antidiscrimination field experts' prospects of discrimination against minorities in Lithuania and approach to possibilities of overcoming discrimination. The set tasks were to survey experts' (1) concepts of minorities and discrimination; (2) prospects of situation of minorities; (3) supposed causes and sequences of discrimination; (4) evaluation of current antidiscrimination policy in Lithuania; and (5) supposed possibilities and means of overcoming discrimination. A qualitative descriptive research was made. The method: a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interview. Four experts were selected from different fields of antidiscrimination and equal opportunities policy implementation covering wide field of working issues on all minority groups. The survey has revealed experts' complex concept of minorities, vital discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and ethnicity, causes of discrimination (firstly related to social structures), negative effects of discrimination on the individual and society, negative evaluation of current antidiscrimination policy, and possibilities of overcoming discrimination through education and alternation in political culture. These results can be helpful with a view to develop effective antidiscrimination strategies.

Experts state that Lithuania remains one of the most intolerant countries in Europe. Intolerance towards some specific social minorities is extremely high. Prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination are a concurrent in many minorities' daily life. Discrimination has a negative influence not only on the discriminated but also on the society as such. There is a lack of studies analyzing the causes and sequences of discriminatory beliefs and behaviors in Lithuania. There is neither a real integral conception of minorities nor a systemic approach to minorities' problems and possibilities to solve them. This ends in inaccurate preventive and interventional measures. The object of this work was to survey equal opportunities and antidiscrimination field experts' prospects of discrimination against minorities in Lithuania and approach to possibilities of overcoming discrimination. The set tasks were to survey experts' (1) concepts of minorities and discrimination; (2) prospects of situation of minorities; (3) supposed causes and sequences of discrimination; (4) evaluation of current antidiscrimination policy in Lithuania; and (5) supposed possibilities and means of overcoming discrimination. A qualitative descriptive research was made. The method: a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interview. Four experts were selected from different fields of antidiscrimination and equal opportunities policy implementation covering wide field of working issues on all minority groups. The survey has revealed experts' complex concept of minorities, vital discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and ethnicity, causes of discrimination (firstly related to social structures), negative effects of discrimination on the individual and society, negative evaluation of current antidiscrimination policy, and possibilities of overcoming discrimination through education and alternation in political culture. These results can be helpful with a view to develop effective antidiscrimination strategies.

The object of this master thesis is education system of the ethnic minorities and supply of textbooks to their general education schools. The main purpose – to evaluate the minorities' education system, in the research to clarify the main ethnic minorities' problems and shortcomings in their own supply of the textbooks which are published in minorities languages or is intended to teach state language. The main purpose is obtained by accomplishing these tasks: to analyze the situation of ethnic minorities in Lithuania, to assess the situation of minorities education (the regulation of Lithuanian ethnic minorities education in laws and other legislation; the situation of ethnic minorities schools system); to analyze supply of textbooks to general education schools of ethnic minorities; diagnose particularities of supply; analyze the repertoire of textbooks; to investigate the situation of supply of the textbooks which are published in minorities languages or is intended to teach state language. To ensure the ethnic minorities right to maintain their native language an opportunity to study in that language or learn it in general education schools or non-formal educational institutions is provided in Lithuania. However, in general education schools studying in native language is maintained only for numerous ethnic minorities. Textbooks for ethnic minorities are published only in Russian and Polish. Analysis of textbooks supply process and the repertoire, the investigation led to the conclusion that the supply got some significant weaknesses such as slow and sluggish renewal of textbooks fund, lack of textbooks choice, the use of old textbooks in learning process, translation into minority language deficiencies, textbooks prices and funds allocated to them to buy non-compliance. The research also indicates that some of the respondents are satisfied by the supply situation, funding for textbooks is normally sufficient, in most schools parents do not need to purchase textbooks; some schools receive support in their native language textbooks from Poland or Russia. It also became clear that the Polish minority is better supplied with textbooks, they got more textbooks, and there are more new textbooks in repertoire, while the number of Russian language textbooks should also be transferred or new textbooks should be published. This master thesis can be useful for those who are interested in ethnic minorities and their educational characteristics, the supply of textbooks, for publishers who are considering publishing textbooks in minorities' languages.