The study aims to explain the ways to discuss about small states and their foreign and security policy. Most of the academic publications dedicated to analyse the definition of small state provide different definitions based on different theories of International Relations, which also include various explanations on how size determines the behavior of a small state. These generalised explanations seem to be very limited because they are not able to give a clear understanding of why the so-called small states exercise different foreign and security policy. Therefore, another view point is chosen – to analyse the ways how states understand their smallness and what meanings define this category of size. The research is based on poststructuralism in International Relations. This theoretical perspective argues that an objective, given and materially described reality does not exist. Discursive meanings, identity and different practices of social construction are much more important objects for analysis. From this point of view, smallness is understood not as an overall and objective factor, but as an identity dimension constructed through different meanings. Two chosen cases – Lithuania and New Zealand – prove that despite the fact that both countries are understood as small, the perception of smallness and its relevance are very different. Five sizes (physical, normative, political, sovereignty and perception), used as a methodological tool, show that various meanings of being a small country are affected not only by physical size.
The study aims to explain the ways to discuss about small states and their foreign and security policy. Most of the academic publications dedicated to analyse the definition of small state provide different definitions based on different theories of International Relations, which also include various explanations on how size determines the behavior of a small state. These generalised explanations seem to be very limited because they are not able to give a clear understanding of why the so-called small states exercise different foreign and security policy. Therefore, another view point is chosen – to analyse the ways how states understand their smallness and what meanings define this category of size. The research is based on poststructuralism in International Relations. This theoretical perspective argues that an objective, given and materially described reality does not exist. Discursive meanings, identity and different practices of social construction are much more important objects for analysis. From this point of view, smallness is understood not as an overall and objective factor, but as an identity dimension constructed through different meanings. Two chosen cases – Lithuania and New Zealand – prove that despite the fact that both countries are understood as small, the perception of smallness and its relevance are very different. Five sizes (physical, normative, political, sovereignty and perception), used as a methodological tool, show that various meanings of being a small country are affected not only by physical size.
The study aims to explain the ways to discuss about small states and their foreign and security policy. Most of the academic publications dedicated to analyse the definition of small state provide different definitions based on different theories of International Relations, which also include various explanations on how size determines the behavior of a small state. These generalised explanations seem to be very limited because they are not able to give a clear understanding of why the so-called small states exercise different foreign and security policy. Therefore, another view point is chosen – to analyse the ways how states understand their smallness and what meanings define this category of size. The research is based on poststructuralism in International Relations. This theoretical perspective argues that an objective, given and materially described reality does not exist. Discursive meanings, identity and different practices of social construction are much more important objects for analysis. From this point of view, smallness is understood not as an overall and objective factor, but as an identity dimension constructed through different meanings. Two chosen cases – Lithuania and New Zealand – prove that despite the fact that both countries are understood as small, the perception of smallness and its relevance are very different. Five sizes (physical, normative, political, sovereignty and perception), used as a methodological tool, show that various meanings of being a small country are affected not only by physical size.
The study aims to explain the ways to discuss about small states and their foreign and security policy. Most of the academic publications dedicated to analyse the definition of small state provide different definitions based on different theories of International Relations, which also include various explanations on how size determines the behavior of a small state. These generalised explanations seem to be very limited because they are not able to give a clear understanding of why the so-called small states exercise different foreign and security policy. Therefore, another view point is chosen – to analyse the ways how states understand their smallness and what meanings define this category of size. The research is based on poststructuralism in International Relations. This theoretical perspective argues that an objective, given and materially described reality does not exist. Discursive meanings, identity and different practices of social construction are much more important objects for analysis. From this point of view, smallness is understood not as an overall and objective factor, but as an identity dimension constructed through different meanings. Two chosen cases – Lithuania and New Zealand – prove that despite the fact that both countries are understood as small, the perception of smallness and its relevance are very different. Five sizes (physical, normative, political, sovereignty and perception), used as a methodological tool, show that various meanings of being a small country are affected not only by physical size.
European Union is facing challenges of ageing societies and changes in structure of economy, thus labour shortages turn into an urgent issue that ultimately affects labour market sustainability. In its attempt to recruit highly qualified workers EU has strong international competitors, e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and pursues a variety of initiatives at national level of the Member States and at the EU level in general. This article aims at assessing the EU policies related to migration of highly qualified workers. Statistical data analysis has revealed that labour mobility is increasing in EU. Thus the EU Mobility directive could be evaluated as bringing benefits, yet with a room for improvement, because highly qualified workers still make up just a small part in all the mobile citizens' population. National initiatives are more effective in fostering the migration of highly qualified workers, but this has the threat of unequal benefits in different EU regions; the effectiveness of EU Blue Card initiative is weak but with a high potential, thus it needs further improvements in its issuing policies.
European Union is facing challenges of ageing societies and changes in structure of economy, thus labour shortages turn into an urgent issue that ultimately affects labour market sustainability. In its attempt to recruit highly qualified workers EU has strong international competitors, e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and pursues a variety of initiatives at national level of the Member States and at the EU level in general. This article aims at assessing the EU policies related to migration of highly qualified workers. Statistical data analysis has revealed that labour mobility is increasing in EU. Thus the EU Mobility directive could be evaluated as bringing benefits, yet with a room for improvement, because highly qualified workers still make up just a small part in all the mobile citizens' population. National initiatives are more effective in fostering the migration of highly qualified workers, but this has the threat of unequal benefits in different EU regions; the effectiveness of EU Blue Card initiative is weak but with a high potential, thus it needs further improvements in its issuing policies.
European Union is facing challenges of ageing societies and changes in structure of economy, thus labour shortages turn into an urgent issue that ultimately affects labour market sustainability. In its attempt to recruit highly qualified workers EU has strong international competitors, e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and pursues a variety of initiatives at national level of the Member States and at the EU level in general. This article aims at assessing the EU policies related to migration of highly qualified workers. Statistical data analysis has revealed that labour mobility is increasing in EU. Thus the EU Mobility directive could be evaluated as bringing benefits, yet with a room for improvement, because highly qualified workers still make up just a small part in all the mobile citizens' population. National initiatives are more effective in fostering the migration of highly qualified workers, but this has the threat of unequal benefits in different EU regions; the effectiveness of EU Blue Card initiative is weak but with a high potential, thus it needs further improvements in its issuing policies.
European Union is facing challenges of ageing societies and changes in structure of economy, thus labour shortages turn into an urgent issue that ultimately affects labour market sustainability. In its attempt to recruit highly qualified workers EU has strong international competitors, e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and pursues a variety of initiatives at national level of the Member States and at the EU level in general. This article aims at assessing the EU policies related to migration of highly qualified workers. Statistical data analysis has revealed that labour mobility is increasing in EU. Thus the EU Mobility directive could be evaluated as bringing benefits, yet with a room for improvement, because highly qualified workers still make up just a small part in all the mobile citizens' population. National initiatives are more effective in fostering the migration of highly qualified workers, but this has the threat of unequal benefits in different EU regions; the effectiveness of EU Blue Card initiative is weak but with a high potential, thus it needs further improvements in its issuing policies.
During the process of divorce children suffer the most, so there is a need to seek solutions to reduce the negative divorce impact on children. One of the possible solutions could be the involvement of children in the process of mediation. In some countries this process has existed for many years. Insufficient research on this topic and high divorce rates require more analysis of the child's involvement in mediation. The aim of this paper is to analyze the experience of the child's involvement in the process of mediation in various foreign countries and to find out what are the possibilities and conditions to adapt this process in Lithuania. In order to achieve this goal, the author reviewed the experience of the child's participation in family mediation of foreign countries (Australia, New Zealand) and conducted the expert survey. To summarize theoretical insights and empirical research results, the conclusions and recommendations are submitted highlighting the assumptions and prerequisites for the child's involvement in the mediation process in Lithuania.
The article presents a study of the work of Lithuanian Sign Language (LSL) interpreters in the spring of 2020, when live press conferences on the COVID-19 pandemic were interpreted. At the onset of the pandemic, LSL interpreters, like many other national sign language interpreters, were faced with a new form of live interpreting − interpreting under extreme conditions. Over the years the broadcast news interpreting has become routine for LSL interpreters and can be considered as interpreting under normal conditions. During the pandemic, however, LSL interpreters suddenly found themselves having to interpret live press conferences of politicians and experts on the evolving situation of COVID-19, a major challenge. Until then, none of them had ever had to interpret under similar conditions in an environment of tension and uncertainty, and without special training of how to interpret in an emergency. The study was based on the methodology of R. L McKee (2014) for studying the sign language interpreters' work under extreme conditions during the natural disasters in Australia and New Zealand and distinguished environmental, linguistic, paralinguistic and interpersonal factors, and on in-depth interview with all 9 LGK interpreters who interpreted during live press conferences on the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines how these four factors influenced the work of LSL interpreters.
The article presents a study of the work of Lithuanian Sign Language (LSL) interpreters in the spring of 2020, when live press conferences on the COVID-19 pandemic were interpreted. At the onset of the pandemic, LSL interpreters, like many other national sign language interpreters, were faced with a new form of live interpreting − interpreting under extreme conditions. Over the years the broadcast news interpreting has become routine for LSL interpreters and can be considered as interpreting under normal conditions. During the pandemic, however, LSL interpreters suddenly found themselves having to interpret live press conferences of politicians and experts on the evolving situation of COVID-19, a major challenge. Until then, none of them had ever had to interpret under similar conditions in an environment of tension and uncertainty, and without special training of how to interpret in an emergency. The study was based on the methodology of R. L McKee (2014) for studying the sign language interpreters' work under extreme conditions during the natural disasters in Australia and New Zealand and distinguished environmental, linguistic, paralinguistic and interpersonal factors, and on in-depth interview with all 9 LGK interpreters who interpreted during live press conferences on the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines how these four factors influenced the work of LSL interpreters.
The subject of this paper is development of usability monitoring principles for Lithuanian state institutions websites. After analyzing usability evaluation methods suggested by J. Nielsen and international Usability Professionals' Association and practice of usability monitoring in public sector of Great Britain, Norway, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand, it was decided to recommend Lithuanian state institutions to use heuristic usability evaluation. In addition, as usability monitoring is closely connected with websites management, main principles of state institutions website management with integrated usability monitoring and usability recommendations were defined. The reason for this research was lack of usability monitoring principles for Lithuanian state institutions websites. According to most recent computer literacy research performed in the end of 2005, Lithuanian state institutions websites are not very widely used. In addition, the main legal document Common Requirements for State Institutions Websites setting basic principles for Lithuanian state institutions websites development doesn't define enough of usability requirements and even doesn't mention usability monitoring. As usability monitoring is considered to be a part of websites management, United Kingdom Government recommendations for state websites management were analyzed and used for defining Lithuanian state websites management principles. The main principles for usability monitoring were defined and usability monitoring was integrated with websites management process. Analysis has shown that public websites usability monitoring differs from private sector websites usability monitoring because of different websites context that sets the goals for websites. Furthermore, analysis has shown that the best usability evaluation methods for Lithuanian state institutions websites is heuristic evaluation because it is relatively simple, flexible and doesn't require much costs. In addition, it is mostly used in public sector of reviewed countries. Heuristic evaluation depends on heuristic model (set). Implemented heuristic model for evaluating Lithuanian state institutions websites encompasses basic state institutions website components: contents, contents presentation, and user interface. Proposed model consists of 61 heuristics. Some of these heuristics may be verified using software tools. Proposed methods should be used in usability monitoring process as a part of websites management. The methods allow evaluating usability effectively, comprehensively and reliably because it has been integrated with websites management (that means management of monitoring is clearly defined), it has been developed considering websites model and context (that means it is comprehensive), and it is based on mathematical relations. Principles for Lithuanian state websites usability monitoring were used during experimental evaluating of 15 Lithuanian state institutions websites. The results of experiment showed that Lithuanian state institutions websites have usability gaps and usability recommendations for these websites were defined. It will be recommended to Information Society Development Committee under the Government of Republic of Lithuania to use these recommendations when updating Common Requirements for state institutions websites. This paper might be useful for persons working in Lithuanian state institutions and responsible for websites, students of information technologies sciences who are interested in public sector websites and Information Society Development Committee under the Government of Republic of Lithuania which is responsible for updating Common Requirements for state institutions websites.
The subject of this paper is development of usability monitoring principles for Lithuanian state institutions websites. After analyzing usability evaluation methods suggested by J. Nielsen and international Usability Professionals' Association and practice of usability monitoring in public sector of Great Britain, Norway, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand, it was decided to recommend Lithuanian state institutions to use heuristic usability evaluation. In addition, as usability monitoring is closely connected with websites management, main principles of state institutions website management with integrated usability monitoring and usability recommendations were defined. The reason for this research was lack of usability monitoring principles for Lithuanian state institutions websites. According to most recent computer literacy research performed in the end of 2005, Lithuanian state institutions websites are not very widely used. In addition, the main legal document Common Requirements for State Institutions Websites setting basic principles for Lithuanian state institutions websites development doesn't define enough of usability requirements and even doesn't mention usability monitoring. As usability monitoring is considered to be a part of websites management, United Kingdom Government recommendations for state websites management were analyzed and used for defining Lithuanian state websites management principles. The main principles for usability monitoring were defined and usability monitoring was integrated with websites management process. Analysis has shown that public websites usability monitoring differs from private sector websites usability monitoring because of different websites context that sets the goals for websites. Furthermore, analysis has shown that the best usability evaluation methods for Lithuanian state institutions websites is heuristic evaluation because it is relatively simple, flexible and doesn't require much costs. In addition, it is mostly used in public sector of reviewed countries. Heuristic evaluation depends on heuristic model (set). Implemented heuristic model for evaluating Lithuanian state institutions websites encompasses basic state institutions website components: contents, contents presentation, and user interface. Proposed model consists of 61 heuristics. Some of these heuristics may be verified using software tools. Proposed methods should be used in usability monitoring process as a part of websites management. The methods allow evaluating usability effectively, comprehensively and reliably because it has been integrated with websites management (that means management of monitoring is clearly defined), it has been developed considering websites model and context (that means it is comprehensive), and it is based on mathematical relations. Principles for Lithuanian state websites usability monitoring were used during experimental evaluating of 15 Lithuanian state institutions websites. The results of experiment showed that Lithuanian state institutions websites have usability gaps and usability recommendations for these websites were defined. It will be recommended to Information Society Development Committee under the Government of Republic of Lithuania to use these recommendations when updating Common Requirements for state institutions websites. This paper might be useful for persons working in Lithuanian state institutions and responsible for websites, students of information technologies sciences who are interested in public sector websites and Information Society Development Committee under the Government of Republic of Lithuania which is responsible for updating Common Requirements for state institutions websites.
In Lithuania, cases of medical malpractice are treated like other tort cases. The main principle in tort cases is that civil liability shall only be applied if the following conditions precedent are established: maplractice, damage, causational link between the malpractice and damage and, finally, fault. It is the duty of the plaintiff to prove three of the conditions precedent: maplractice, damage and the causational link between the malpractice and damage. As to fault, it is presumed once malpractice is established. Therefore, the plaintiff has no budren to prove it. On the contrary, it is then the burden of the defendant to submit evidence to court that that he or she was at no fault. The same distribution of the burden of proof is aplied in cases of medical malpractice, too. It is the patient who must prove that the defendant – hospital or another healtcare institution – conducted certain malpractice, which caused damage to the patient's health or even caused his or her death, if the claim is raised by the deceased patient's relatives. This is the so called general rule of the distribution of the burden of proof. However, unlike other tort cases, cases of medical malpractice are specific. Evaluation of healthcare services always requires medical knowledge and the acknowledged right to applie it, which the patient or his relatives usually do not have. Furthermore, in the jurisprudence of the Lithuanian courts it is established that medical malpractice can only be proved by the opinion and conclusions of the healthcare specialists and/ or medical experts. Explanations and subjective evaluation of the facts by the patient himself or herself have no evidential significance. Thus, the patient, seeking to prove his or her claim, must ask other healthcare specialists to evaluate behaviour and decisions of treatment of their colleagues. Usually, due to the conflict of interest such other specialists refuse to witness at court againts their colleague doctors. In such situations patients find themselves helpless and with no effective means to prove their claim. The author of this thesis questions such practice of distribution of the burden of prove and views it as potentially contradicting the equality of litigators, which is one of the main principles of the Lithuanian civil procedure. The author argues that in other cases, where one of the litigators is a weaker litigator, for example, emplopyee, the heavier budren of proof is laid on the shoulders of the defendant, for example, the employer, who is much stronger and has much more potential to prove his arguments. Why cases of medical malpractice are treated differently? It is evident that a patient is a weakee litigating party due to lack of knowledge of medicine, also due to access to collection of evidence. Experience of other countries in medical malpractice cases in this particular aspect varies from country to country. In some countries like the USA, for example, the same non-patient-friendly approach is aplied as in Lithuania. In Italy, for example, depending on the particularities of medical malpractice, it is the healthcare institution, which must prove that it conducted no malpractice or that damage to the patient was not caused by the healthcare services rendered. In New Zealand, compensation at no-fault system is introduced, where patient may seek a government-funded compensation and cases of medical malpractice must not be solved at courts. Initiatives to introduce a no-fault compensation system appear in Lithuania, as well. Such initiatives have their supporters and critics. In the view of the author of this thesis, one of the alternatives to the introduction of the no-fault compensation system in Lithaunia, is change of the distribution of the burden of proof in medical malpractice cases solved by the Lithuanian courts. In the view of the author, the patientcould be released from the burden of proof of malpractice and causational link. The patient should only prove damage and, having in mind that non-pecuniary damage is always compensated in cases of damage caused to a person's health or murder, the patient or patient's relatives should only have to prove pecuniary damage at court. As to non-pecuniary damage, the courts in Lithuania do not request litigants to prove the size of it, nor there is any amount of such damage regulated by the law. Rather, it is the duty of the court to establish a reasonable size of pecuniary damage on the basis of the criterion set by the law. Thus, it the patient in medical malpractice cases must only prove the fact of damage and the amount of pecuniary damage, this would significantly ease the patient's procedural status. It would then gradually change the negative attitude of the society towards defending patient's rights and interest in cases of medical malpractice. The currently applied distribution of the burden of proof in medical malpractice is one of the key factors, which deters injurder patiens from seeking compensation of damage from the healthcase institution at courts, says the author.
In Lithuania, cases of medical malpractice are treated like other tort cases. The main principle in tort cases is that civil liability shall only be applied if the following conditions precedent are established: maplractice, damage, causational link between the malpractice and damage and, finally, fault. It is the duty of the plaintiff to prove three of the conditions precedent: maplractice, damage and the causational link between the malpractice and damage. As to fault, it is presumed once malpractice is established. Therefore, the plaintiff has no budren to prove it. On the contrary, it is then the burden of the defendant to submit evidence to court that that he or she was at no fault. The same distribution of the burden of proof is aplied in cases of medical malpractice, too. It is the patient who must prove that the defendant – hospital or another healtcare institution – conducted certain malpractice, which caused damage to the patient's health or even caused his or her death, if the claim is raised by the deceased patient's relatives. This is the so called general rule of the distribution of the burden of proof. However, unlike other tort cases, cases of medical malpractice are specific. Evaluation of healthcare services always requires medical knowledge and the acknowledged right to applie it, which the patient or his relatives usually do not have. Furthermore, in the jurisprudence of the Lithuanian courts it is established that medical malpractice can only be proved by the opinion and conclusions of the healthcare specialists and/ or medical experts. Explanations and subjective evaluation of the facts by the patient himself or herself have no evidential significance. Thus, the patient, seeking to prove his or her claim, must ask other healthcare specialists to evaluate behaviour and decisions of treatment of their colleagues. Usually, due to the conflict of interest such other specialists refuse to witness at court againts their colleague doctors. In such situations patients find themselves helpless and with no effective means to prove their claim. The author of this thesis questions such practice of distribution of the burden of prove and views it as potentially contradicting the equality of litigators, which is one of the main principles of the Lithuanian civil procedure. The author argues that in other cases, where one of the litigators is a weaker litigator, for example, emplopyee, the heavier budren of proof is laid on the shoulders of the defendant, for example, the employer, who is much stronger and has much more potential to prove his arguments. Why cases of medical malpractice are treated differently? It is evident that a patient is a weakee litigating party due to lack of knowledge of medicine, also due to access to collection of evidence. Experience of other countries in medical malpractice cases in this particular aspect varies from country to country. In some countries like the USA, for example, the same non-patient-friendly approach is aplied as in Lithuania. In Italy, for example, depending on the particularities of medical malpractice, it is the healthcare institution, which must prove that it conducted no malpractice or that damage to the patient was not caused by the healthcare services rendered. In New Zealand, compensation at no-fault system is introduced, where patient may seek a government-funded compensation and cases of medical malpractice must not be solved at courts. Initiatives to introduce a no-fault compensation system appear in Lithuania, as well. Such initiatives have their supporters and critics. In the view of the author of this thesis, one of the alternatives to the introduction of the no-fault compensation system in Lithaunia, is change of the distribution of the burden of proof in medical malpractice cases solved by the Lithuanian courts. In the view of the author, the patientcould be released from the burden of proof of malpractice and causational link. The patient should only prove damage and, having in mind that non-pecuniary damage is always compensated in cases of damage caused to a person's health or murder, the patient or patient's relatives should only have to prove pecuniary damage at court. As to non-pecuniary damage, the courts in Lithuania do not request litigants to prove the size of it, nor there is any amount of such damage regulated by the law. Rather, it is the duty of the court to establish a reasonable size of pecuniary damage on the basis of the criterion set by the law. Thus, it the patient in medical malpractice cases must only prove the fact of damage and the amount of pecuniary damage, this would significantly ease the patient's procedural status. It would then gradually change the negative attitude of the society towards defending patient's rights and interest in cases of medical malpractice. The currently applied distribution of the burden of proof in medical malpractice is one of the key factors, which deters injurder patiens from seeking compensation of damage from the healthcase institution at courts, says the author.
