Russians in Lithuania at the dawn of the restoration of the Lithuanian independence

Article presents the analysis of the data of the survey conducted in Lithuania in 1991 in the comparative perspective with today's social realities. The article focuses on the analysis of the relations between the ethnic Russian group and the Lithuanian group. The analysis also aims to identify the possible socio-political fractures among the two groups as well as to reveal their current standing in terms of social welfare and attitudes towards citizenship and migration issues. The article also examines how the Russian group perceives their cultural ties with the homeland Russia and how they are satisfied with their life in Lithuania, and what expectations they have for the future. The ethnic-cultural aspects of the media and media consumption patterns as well as the use of Lithuanian language in everyday life are analyzed

From totalitarian to democratic society (Lithuania and East Central European countries in 1990-1991)

Paper is prepared on the basis of an international project "Political Culture, Political and Economic Orientations in Central and Eastern Europe during the Transition to Democracy". The survey was carried out in Lithuania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Ukraine, Hungary in 1990-1991. The majority of Lithuanians intensively read the press, discussed political issues at that time. In the context of other countries, the political activity in Lithuania was above average in many cases. It is possible to explain this empirical fact, because of a complicated political situation during that period (Soviet military structures occupied Lithuanian TV, etc.). On the "left-right" scale a considerable part of the population identified themselves as "centrists" or did not have opinions about it. Absolute majority of the population were for the democratic system and preferred further development as the Western countries did. A majority of the population in Lithuania, as well as in other surveyed countries, was not satisfied with a functioning of the democracy in the country. People did not trust in the political parties, but did trust in the Parliament and the Government at that time. The majority of the population in all countries wanted a market economy and believed in a perfect functioning of this economy. On the other hand, evaluation of the economic situation ofthat period was very negative. But people believed in a considerable improvement of the economic situation of the country and their families in the future

Cultural processes in modern Lithuania: libraries and cultural centres in the regions

The main idea of the article is to demonstrate the continuity of the Lithuanisation and culturalization processes in modern Lithuania by analysing the state’s cultural management. An interdisciplinary approach – historical and sociological perspectives – is used. Libraries and cultural centres are regarded as belonging to the main institutions that secure the implementation of the state cultural policy objectives. The findings of the research allow suggesting that the current management of Lithuanian culture, especially in the regions, ensures the conservation of the situation rather than the development of Lithuanisation and culturalization processes that can meet the challenges of globalization. Therefore, there is a treat of de-Lithuaniasation and de-culturalisation of Lithuanians

Cultural processes in modern Lithuania: libraries and cultural centres in the regions

The main idea of the article is to demonstrate the continuity of the Lithuanisation and culturalization processes in modern Lithuania by analysing the state’s cultural management. An interdisciplinary approach – historical and sociological perspectives – is used. Libraries and cultural centres are regarded as belonging to the main institutions that secure the implementation of the state cultural policy objectives. The findings of the research allow suggesting that the current management of Lithuanian culture, especially in the regions, ensures the conservation of the situation rather than the development of Lithuanisation and culturalization processes that can meet the challenges of globalization. Therefore, there is a treat of de-Lithuaniasation and de-culturalisation of Lithuanians

Assessment of territorial differences of population welfare

Straipsniu siekiama įvertinti gyventojų gerovės skirtumus šalies regionuose bei apžvelgti vidurinės klasės susiformavimo galimybes šalyje gyventojų pajamų (darbo apmokėjimo) skirtumų raidos kontekste. Vertinant gerovės skirtumus regionuose, straipsnyje plačiai naudojamas darbo apmokėjimo rodiklis. Nepaisant to, kad darbo užmokestis tikrai negali būti vieninteliu ir visaapimančiu gerovės kriterijumi, jis išlieka itin svarbiu jos vertinimo indikatoriumi, nuo kurio priklauso daugumos regionų gyventojų ir jų šeimų pajamos. Kita vertus, kai kalbama apie gyventojų gerovės skirtumus savivaldybių lygmenyje, dėl statistinės informacijos stokos darbo užmokesčio rodiklis yra ypač naudingas. Gyventojų gerovės skirtumus remiantis darbo apmokėjimo rodikliu svarbu nagrinėti todėl, kad aukšta šio rodiklio diferenciacija regionuose itin trukdo stiprios vidurinės klasės susiformavimui bei didina mažesnes pajamas gaunančių žmonių ir jų šeimų socialinės atskirties riziką. Straipsnyje taip pat nemažai dėmesio skiriama vidurinės klasės formavimuisi šalyje, nagrinėjant situaciją gyventojų gerovės raidos kontekste. Pernelyg didelė gyventojų pajamų ir darbo apmokėjimo lygybė taip pat žalinga stiprios vidurinės klasės susiformavimui ir bendram gerovės augimui. Todėl, siekiant tvaraus gyventojų gerovės augimo, tikslinga kalbėti apie optimalią darbo apmokėjimo (gyventojų pajamų) diferenciaciją. Tokia optimali diferenciacija, žinoma, turėtų apimti tiek teritorinį, tiek profesinį (tiek kvalifikacinį) pjūvį. Be abejo, darbo apmokėjimo dinamika bei diferenciacija priklauso nuo gyventojų socialinės–profesinės struktūros skirtumų ir jų pasikeitimų regionuose. Taip pat svarbu išvengti didelių pajamų skirtumų gyventojų socialinėse grupėse.The aim of the article is to evaluate the differences in welfare in the regions of the country and to review the possibilities of the formation of the middle class in the context of the development of the population income (wage). For the purpose of assessing differences in the well-being of the population, the article widely uses the wage rate. Despite the fact that wages may not be the only and comprehensive criterion of well-being, they remain a crucial indicator of their assessment, on which the income of most regions and their families depends. On the other hand, when it comes to differences in the welfare of the population at municipal level, the lack of statistical information makes the wage indicator particularly useful. It is important to examine differences in the well-being of the population on the basis of the wage rate, because the high indicator differentiation in regions significantly impedes the development of a strong middle class and increases the risk of social exclusion for lower-income people and their families. The article also focuses on the formation of the middle class in the country, examining the situation in the context of the development of the welfare of the population. Excessive income and wage equality are also detrimental to the emergence of a strong middle class and overall welfare growth. Therefore, when it comes to sustainable growth in the well-being of the population, it should be think about optimum wage differentiation. Such an optimal differentiation should, of course, cover both the territorial and the professional (as well as the qualifying) aspect. The known dynamics and differentiation of wages depends on the differences in the social and occupational structure of the population and their changes in the regions. It is also important to avoid large income disparities between the social groups of the population