The Curonian Spit is an exceptional natural territory and a special geographical space for human habitation. From time immemorial, the inhabitants of this country have faced various challenges: natural, economic, political. In the context of historical periods, the inhabitants of this land had to find solutions to adapt or change the natural environment. The aim of this work is to determine the social and demographic changes of the Curonian Spit population and the structures of economic activities in the context of spatial differentiation and social segregation.
Current situation in Lithuanian rural areas is among the topical and extremely controversial social objects. During the recent seven decades our countryside had experience almost incommensurable with the situation in any another field of economical and social life. Week possibilities of rural inhabitants to invest, small purchasing power and inadequate professional background generally inappropriate for modern labour market are the biggest obstacles for further rural economic development. Globalization and Lithuania's accession to the European Union have a radical impact on the role of modern rural areas. This makes it necessary to disclose substantial changes in rural areas, which have to be analyzed by public institutions involved in administration of rural development. The latest data about demographical and economic situation, also about changes in rural infrastructure and life quality of rural residents is presented in the paper.
Current situation in Lithuanian rural areas is among the topical and extremely controversial social objects. During the recent seven decades our countryside had experience almost incommensurable with the situation in any another field of economical and social life. Week possibilities of rural inhabitants to invest, small purchasing power and inadequate professional background generally inappropriate for modern labour market are the biggest obstacles for further rural economic development. Globalization and Lithuania's accession to the European Union have a radical impact on the role of modern rural areas. This makes it necessary to disclose substantial changes in rural areas, which have to be analyzed by public institutions involved in administration of rural development. The latest data about demographical and economic situation, also about changes in rural infrastructure and life quality of rural residents is presented in the paper.
In 2001 the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania and the Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania (the ex-Communist Party) completed their formal merger under the name Lithuanian Social Democratic Party and became one of the largest and the most influential political organization in Lithuania. This article aims to examine rate of replacement and social-demographic characteristics of the members of the LSDP National Executive Committee (Presidium) after party completed merger in 2001. The analysis exposed that pace and scope of the LSDP elite replacement was quite intensive between 2001 and 2015. However the rate of survival is greater in the case of founding members, who entered party elite in 2001 than in that of newcomers i.e., who were elected to the Presidium for the first time after 2001. With regard to age of the LSDP elite, dominant member age grouping is 50 years and older. The data indicates that there is a low percentage of female and especially youth in the National Executive Committee.
In 2001 the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania and the Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania (the ex-Communist Party) completed their formal merger under the name Lithuanian Social Democratic Party and became one of the largest and the most influential political organization in Lithuania. This article aims to examine rate of replacement and social-demographic characteristics of the members of the LSDP National Executive Committee (Presidium) after party completed merger in 2001. The analysis exposed that pace and scope of the LSDP elite replacement was quite intensive between 2001 and 2015. However the rate of survival is greater in the case of founding members, who entered party elite in 2001 than in that of newcomers i.e., who were elected to the Presidium for the first time after 2001. With regard to age of the LSDP elite, dominant member age grouping is 50 years and older. The data indicates that there is a low percentage of female and especially youth in the National Executive Committee.
In 2001 the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania and the Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania (the ex-Communist Party) completed their formal merger under the name Lithuanian Social Democratic Party and became one of the largest and the most influential political organization in Lithuania. This article aims to examine rate of replacement and social-demographic characteristics of the members of the LSDP National Executive Committee (Presidium) after party completed merger in 2001. The analysis exposed that pace and scope of the LSDP elite replacement was quite intensive between 2001 and 2015. However the rate of survival is greater in the case of founding members, who entered party elite in 2001 than in that of newcomers i.e., who were elected to the Presidium for the first time after 2001. With regard to age of the LSDP elite, dominant member age grouping is 50 years and older. The data indicates that there is a low percentage of female and especially youth in the National Executive Committee.
In 2001 the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania and the Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania (the ex-Communist Party) completed their formal merger under the name Lithuanian Social Democratic Party and became one of the largest and the most influential political organization in Lithuania. This article aims to examine rate of replacement and social-demographic characteristics of the members of the LSDP National Executive Committee (Presidium) after party completed merger in 2001. The analysis exposed that pace and scope of the LSDP elite replacement was quite intensive between 2001 and 2015. However the rate of survival is greater in the case of founding members, who entered party elite in 2001 than in that of newcomers i.e., who were elected to the Presidium for the first time after 2001. With regard to age of the LSDP elite, dominant member age grouping is 50 years and older. The data indicates that there is a low percentage of female and especially youth in the National Executive Committee.
In 2001 the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania and the Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania (the ex-Communist Party) completed their formal merger under the name Lithuanian Social Democratic Party and became one of the largest and the most influential political organization in Lithuania. This article aims to examine rate of replacement and social-demographic characteristics of the members of the LSDP National Executive Committee (Presidium) after party completed merger in 2001. The analysis exposed that pace and scope of the LSDP elite replacement was quite intensive between 2001 and 2015. However the rate of survival is greater in the case of founding members, who entered party elite in 2001 than in that of newcomers i.e., who were elected to the Presidium for the first time after 2001. With regard to age of the LSDP elite, dominant member age grouping is 50 years and older. The data indicates that there is a low percentage of female and especially youth in the National Executive Committee. ; Straipsnyje tiriama Lietuvos socialdemokratų partijai vadovaujančio elito, kuris užėmė postus partijos tarybos prezidiume, personalo kaita ir socialinis demografinis profilis po 2001 m. įvykusio LSDP susijungimo su pokomunistine Lietuvos demokratine partija. Tyrimo rezultatai atskleidė, kad LSDP vykdomojoje institucijoje 2001–2015 m. laikotarpiu dominavo 50 metų ir vyresni vyrai. Partiniame elite gana įtakinga grupė buvo 2001 m. po jungiamojo suvažiavimo į tarybos prezidiumą įžengę politikai – jungtinės partijos steigėjai. Tačiau kas dvejus metus vykstanti santykinai intensyvi vykdomosios institucijos narių kaita leidžia teigti, jog LSDP valdymas nėra atsidūręs tos pačios partijos lyderių grupės rankose.
In political discourse, climate change issues are often linked to the need to implement an energy transition based not only on changes in the economy and politics, but also in social life. Risk perception and social acceptability of technologies are seen as the most important factors for the further progress of a socially responsible and aware society. Therefore, the research conducted in this dissertation aimed to uncover the factors shaping the risk perception and social acceptability of energy technologies among the Lithuanian population in the context of climate change. The theoretical approach of the dissertation was based on the ideas of risk society, ecological and reflexive modernization, and systems theories. The data for the study were obtained during the implementation of the LMT-funded project " Public Perceptions of Climate Change: Lithuanian case in a European Comparative Perspective", in which a representative survey of the Lithuanian population was conducted through direct interviews. The study found that while Lithuanians are relatively unconcerned about the problem of climate change, renewable energy technologies are viewed positively and are associated with lower risk. The acceptability of these technologies is most influenced by concerns about energy security in terms of energy affordability, environmental protection and stable energy supply. Averting climate change issues reduces awareness of the risks of non-renewable energy technologies. Thus, in preparation for the implementation of the energy transition, it is necessary to raise public awareness of the global challenges and to seek for measures that encourage the population to become more actively involved and responsible.
In political discourse, climate change issues are often linked to the need to implement an energy transition based not only on changes in the economy and politics, but also in social life. Risk perception and social acceptability of technologies are seen as the most important factors for the further progress of a socially responsible and aware society. Therefore, the research conducted in this dissertation aimed to uncover the factors shaping the risk perception and social acceptability of energy technologies among the Lithuanian population in the context of climate change. The theoretical approach of the dissertation was based on the ideas of risk society, ecological and reflexive modernization, and systems theories. The data for the study were obtained during the implementation of the LMT-funded project " Public Perceptions of Climate Change: Lithuanian case in a European Comparative Perspective", in which a representative survey of the Lithuanian population was conducted through direct interviews. The study found that while Lithuanians are relatively unconcerned about the problem of climate change, renewable energy technologies are viewed positively and are associated with lower risk. The acceptability of these technologies is most influenced by concerns about energy security in terms of energy affordability, environmental protection and stable energy supply. Averting climate change issues reduces awareness of the risks of non-renewable energy technologies. Thus, in preparation for the implementation of the energy transition, it is necessary to raise public awareness of the global challenges and to seek for measures that encourage the population to become more actively involved and responsible.
In political discourse, climate change issues are often linked to the need to implement an energy transition based not only on changes in the economy and politics, but also in social life. Risk perception and social acceptability of technologies are seen as the most important factors for the further progress of a socially responsible and aware society. Therefore, the research conducted in this dissertation aimed to uncover the factors shaping the risk perception and social acceptability of energy technologies among the Lithuanian population in the context of climate change. The theoretical approach of the dissertation was based on the ideas of risk society, ecological and reflexive modernization, and systems theories. The data for the study were obtained during the implementation of the LMT-funded project " Public Perceptions of Climate Change: Lithuanian case in a European Comparative Perspective", in which a representative survey of the Lithuanian population was conducted through direct interviews. The study found that while Lithuanians are relatively unconcerned about the problem of climate change, renewable energy technologies are viewed positively and are associated with lower risk. The acceptability of these technologies is most influenced by concerns about energy security in terms of energy affordability, environmental protection and stable energy supply. Averting climate change issues reduces awareness of the risks of non-renewable energy technologies. Thus, in preparation for the implementation of the energy transition, it is necessary to raise public awareness of the global challenges and to seek for measures that encourage the population to become more actively involved and responsible.
In political discourse, climate change issues are often linked to the need to implement an energy transition based not only on changes in the economy and politics, but also in social life. Risk perception and social acceptability of technologies are seen as the most important factors for the further progress of a socially responsible and aware society. Therefore, the research conducted in this dissertation aimed to uncover the factors shaping the risk perception and social acceptability of energy technologies among the Lithuanian population in the context of climate change. The theoretical approach of the dissertation was based on the ideas of risk society, ecological and reflexive modernization, and systems theories. The data for the study were obtained during the implementation of the LMT-funded project " Public Perceptions of Climate Change: Lithuanian case in a European Comparative Perspective", in which a representative survey of the Lithuanian population was conducted through direct interviews. The study found that while Lithuanians are relatively unconcerned about the problem of climate change, renewable energy technologies are viewed positively and are associated with lower risk. The acceptability of these technologies is most influenced by concerns about energy security in terms of energy affordability, environmental protection and stable energy supply. Averting climate change issues reduces awareness of the risks of non-renewable energy technologies. Thus, in preparation for the implementation of the energy transition, it is necessary to raise public awareness of the global challenges and to seek for measures that encourage the population to become more actively involved and responsible.
The structure of society, including the sphere of politics, has been changing and shifting during the last several decades. New forms of civic participation have emerged as an alternative to the rule of state government. Civic society becomes a very important component in society. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze shifting social realities and its impact on power relations. This study examines practices of the Lithuanian youth NGOs in a global context. Ten members from different youth NGO's were interviewed for the study. The interviews were conducted with those members of NGOs who had participated in international networks and had had international connections. The sample of respondents was made using the snowball strategy. The analysis demonstrates that the globalization process depends on different social, economical and political patterns of a single country. Globalization changes the inner quality of the social and political life itself and loosens up the relation of a society to politics. This process, in its turn, provides citizens with more opportunities to participate in the governing of a state. The research results also show that the main function of NGOs is political and/ or civil socialization. Informal education is one of the methods that can motivate and encourage the youth to participate in civic activities. Members of the youth NGOs can become agents in social change and can have a possibility to influence the change not only at the local, regional or national but also at the international level.
The structure of society, including the sphere of politics, has been changing and shifting during the last several decades. New forms of civic participation have emerged as an alternative to the rule of state government. Civic society becomes a very important component in society. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze shifting social realities and its impact on power relations. This study examines practices of the Lithuanian youth NGOs in a global context. Ten members from different youth NGO's were interviewed for the study. The interviews were conducted with those members of NGOs who had participated in international networks and had had international connections. The sample of respondents was made using the snowball strategy. The analysis demonstrates that the globalization process depends on different social, economical and political patterns of a single country. Globalization changes the inner quality of the social and political life itself and loosens up the relation of a society to politics. This process, in its turn, provides citizens with more opportunities to participate in the governing of a state. The research results also show that the main function of NGOs is political and/ or civil socialization. Informal education is one of the methods that can motivate and encourage the youth to participate in civic activities. Members of the youth NGOs can become agents in social change and can have a possibility to influence the change not only at the local, regional or national but also at the international level.
The structure of society, including the sphere of politics, has been changing and shifting during the last several decades. New forms of civic participation have emerged as an alternative to the rule of state government. Civic society becomes a very important component in society. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze shifting social realities and its impact on power relations. This study examines practices of the Lithuanian youth NGOs in a global context. Ten members from different youth NGO's were interviewed for the study. The interviews were conducted with those members of NGOs who had participated in international networks and had had international connections. The sample of respondents was made using the snowball strategy. The analysis demonstrates that the globalization process depends on different social, economical and political patterns of a single country. Globalization changes the inner quality of the social and political life itself and loosens up the relation of a society to politics. This process, in its turn, provides citizens with more opportunities to participate in the governing of a state. The research results also show that the main function of NGOs is political and/ or civil socialization. Informal education is one of the methods that can motivate and encourage the youth to participate in civic activities. Members of the youth NGOs can become agents in social change and can have a possibility to influence the change not only at the local, regional or national but also at the international level.
