Institute of International Relations and Political Science
10 Vokiečių, LT-01130 Vilnius
Tel. 251 4130, fax 251 4134
E-mail
www.tspmi.vu.lt
Dean - Prof. Dr. Ramūnas Vilpišauskas
STAFF
34 teachers (27 holding research degree), 5 research fellows (4 holding research degree), 20 doctoral students.
RESEARCH AREAS
Transformations of Lithuanian Political life: Theory and Practice
Development of the European Union after Lisbon Treaty
International Politics: Problems, Research Methods and Challenges for Lithuanian Foreign Policy
DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS MAINTAINED IN 2014
D. Žvalionytė. The integration of return migrants in their home country’s labour market: evidence from Lithuania.
V. Valantiejus. Post-communism as the form of the political.
I. Petronytė. Formation of the attitudes towards political issues in post-communist country: case study of Lithuania.
K. Andrijauskas. The clash between China’s and Russia’s interests of regional hegemony in the 21st century.
MAIN CONFERENCES ORGANIZED IN 2014
International conference Disclosing Invisible Society: Informal And Concealed Social Networks Under Communism
National conference Making Democracy Work: Political Institutions and Their Reforms in Lithuania
DEPARTMENT OF EUROPEAN STUDIES
10 Vokiečių, LT-01130 Vilnius
Tel. 251 4142, fax 251 4134
E-mail:
Head – Prof. Dr. Gediminas Vitkus
STAFF
Professors: Habil. Dr. J. Čičinskas, Dr. V. Nakrošis, Dr. V. Radžvilas, Dr. R. Vilpišauskas, Dr. G. Vitkus.
Associate professors: Dr. E. Barcevičius, Dr. S. Kropas, Dr. R. Kuodis.
Senior research fellows: Dr. K. Maniokas.
Lecturers: Dr. L. Kasčiūnas, Dr. V. Kuokštis, Dr. Ž. Martinaitis.
Assistants and junior research fellows: S. Karmazinaitė, D. Kriaučiūnas, J. Pranevičius, V. Pukinaitė, I. Šimonytė, D. Žvalionytė.
Doctoral students: S. Bankauskaitė-Grigaliūnaitė, I. Giedraitytė, L. Jurkonis, M. Skuodis, D. Skusevičienė, D. Skusevičius, R. Švedas.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Europeanization process in the EU member states
EU enlargement and the institutional reform
RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2014
Projects Supported by University Budget
Lithuania in the European Union after the Lisbon Treaty. Prof. R. Vilpišauskas. 2014.
The aim of the research project is to research the trends of implementation of EU policies, the reflections of EU current affairs in Lithuania and the impact of main institutional EU transformations.
The task for 2014 was to prepare and to publish the collection of articles which analyze the ten years of experiences of Lithuania’s membership in the EU.
Main publications:
Lietuva Europos Sąjungoje: metraštis 2009–2013. Vilnius: Eugrimas, 2014, 9–32.
Public Administration Reforms and Public Policy Changes in Lithuania and European Union. Prof. Dr. V. Nakrošis. 2014–2015.
The aim of the project is to analyze the global transformations of smart governance, public administration initiatives in EU institutions and EU member states, to explain the changes of Lithuanian public policy and public administration in the European context.
The task for 2014 was to participate in COCOPS project and in COST IS1207 action, to present research results in international conferences and to prepare articles on fiscal consolidation in Lithuania, high education reform, agency control etc.
Main publications:
Martinaitis, Ž. 2014. Kai reformos susitinka institucijas : aukštųjų mokyklų valdymo ir finansavimo reformų atvejis. Reforma Lietuvoje: įžvalgos apie mokslo ir studijų pertvarką: [straipsnių rinkinys]. Specialusis redaktorius [sudarytojas] Paulius Subačius ,Vilnius: Alma littera, 107–133.
Putinaitė, N. 2014. Ko reikia reformai? : mokslo ir studijų pertvarkos Lietuvoje atvejis. Reforma Lietuvoje: įžvalgos apie mokslo ir studijų pertvarką : [straipsnių rinkinys]. Specialusis redaktorius [sudarytojas] Paulius Subačius, Vilnius : Alma littera, 13–105.
National Research Projects
Research Council of Lithuania. Lithuania in the European Union: transformation or imitation? (No. MIP-010/2013). Assoc. Prof. Dr. K. Maniokas. 2013–2015.
The research project aims to examine, assess and explain Europeanization of the post-communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEEC), which have become EU members in 2004 and 2007. The methodologies for analysis of Europeanization at the level of polity, politics and policy distinguishing a) the identity and quality of democracy, and b) institutions and public policy aspects were developed, the data collected and the first results presented at national conference and published in special issue of Politologija, 2014, no. 4.
See: http://www.vu.lt/leidyba/lt/mokslo-zurnalai/politologija/archyvas
Research Council of Lithuania. Performance Priorities of the Lithuanian Government: Implementation Process and Result (No. MIP-14450). Prof. Dr. V. Nakrošis. 2013–2015.
The main aim of this study is to explain why even the most important Government performance priorities might be not successfully implemented over a sufficiently long period of time. In order to achieve this aim, a specific theoretical framework for analysis will be developed, enabling analysis and explanation of the implementation process of Government performance priorities. In addition, the implementation process and achieved results of these priorities will be compared across different public policy areas in Lithuania.
During the project six case studies on the main XV Government performance priorities will be carried out. These priorities are: structural reforms in the energy sector, reform of higher education, public administration reform (civil service reform), health care reform, employment and reduction of social exclusion, as well as a programme of residential buildings’ renovation.
International Research Projects
COST action project. Local Public Sector Reforms: An International Comparison. Prof. V. Nakrošis. 2013–2017.
The action will generate coherent data bases for systematic comparison of local governments with a view to streamlining analytical approaches and synthesizing research outcomes using methodological triangulation (qualitative/quantitative techniques). The Action will provide a platform for establishing a new set of comparative (descriptive, explanatory, and evaluative) knowledge on local public sector reforms and for integrating the fragmented research activities in this neglected area of investigation. It aims to enhance the scope of the conceptual foundations as well as the methodological rigour of comparative public administration.
The researchers of IIRPs worked on the preparation of report on the public service reforms in Lithuania in 1990–2013 both at the local and national levels and on the preparation of report on main forms of democratic renewal in Lithuanian local government after 2000.
EEA and Norwegian Financial Mechanisms 2009 – 2014. Energy Security in the Baltic Sea Region: Regional Coordination and Management of Interdependencies. Prof. R. Vilpišauskas. 2014–2015.
The main goal of the project is to assess the current situation of energy security in the Baltic Sea Region focusing on the patterns of (asymmetrical) trade interdependencies as well as policy coordination initiatives aimed at managing those interdependencies. The project aims at producing a study which discusses several issues of energy security: the trade in energy resources in the Baltic Sea Region, in particular, the Baltic countries, Poland and Nordic states by using the concept of interdependency, how trade relations have evolved since the enlargement of the EU in 2004 and how EU membership affected this process, what is the role of sub-regional cooperation in integrating energy markets and initiatives like the BEMIP, what are the main factors which have been delaying the implementation of regional energy projects aimed at increasing the web of alternative sources of supply, and how energy security could be further improved by using instruments provided by EU membership and sub-regional cooperation formats like BEMIP.
MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS
Centre of European Integration Studies
TransEuropean Policy Studies Association (TEPSA)
EPIN - European Policy Institutes Network
European Social, Legal and Economic Projects (Lithuania)
Public Policy and Management Institute (Lithuania)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES
Prof. G. Vitkus -
- Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook Lithuanian Annual Strategic Review;
- editorial board member of the journal Politologija (Political Science);
- member of Humanities and Social Science Committee of the Lithuanian Research Council.
Prof. R. Vilpišauskas –
- editorial board member of the journals and series: Journal of Baltic Studies, Lithuanian Foreign Policy Review, Lithuanian Strategic Annual Review, Baltic Journal of Political Science, Politics and Society in the Baltic Sea Region;
- member of the Sunset Commission, State Progress Council.
Prof. V. Nakrošis –
- editorial board member of the journal Administrative Culture;
- the Best Comparative Paper award of NISPAcee in 2013 (for paper co-authored with Dr. Žilvinas Martinaitis, Vilnius University, Lithuania, Prof. Calin Hintea, Babes-Bolyai University, Romania, Mr. Dan Balica, Babes-Bolyai University, Romania) http://www.nispa.sk/page.php?sid=975.
Prof. J. Čičinskas –
- editor-in-Chief of the journal Pinigų studijos (Monetary studies);
- member of the National Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education.
DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
10 Vokiečių, LT-01130 Vilnius
Tel. 251 4139, fax 251 4134
E-mail:
Head – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tomas Janeliūnas
STAFF
Senior research fellow: Prof. Dr. R. Lopata.
Associate professors: Dr. D. Jakniūnaitė, Dr. T. Janeliūnas, Dr. V. Sirutavičius, Dr. M. Šešelgytė.
Lecturers: Dr. K. Andrijauskas, Dr. G. Jasutis, Dr. L. Jonavičius, Dr. D. Jurgelevičiūtė, Dr. E. Leonaitė, Dr. D.Šlekys.
Research fellows: Dr. K. Aleksa, Dr. N. Maliukevičius.
Assistants and junior research fellows: V. Jurkonis, I. Makaraitytė, R. Miglinaitė, L. Pukelis, R. Švedas, I. Stanytė-Toločkienė, G. Vaščenkaitė.
Doctoral students: G. Bartusevičiūtė, V. Beržiūnas, I. Koreivaitė, A. Tumkevič, M. Zapolskis.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
International security
Transatlantic relations
Regional studies: Belarus, Ukraine, and Kaliningrad Oblast
Geo-strategic transformation: old and new challenges for Central and Eastern Europe
Lithuanian foreign and security policy
RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2014
Projects Supported by University Budget
The Policies of International Actors towards Baltic States: Decision Making Mechanisms and Actors. Assoc. Prof. Dr. T. Janeliūnas. 2014–2015.
The aim is to analyze the mechanisms of decision making in the area of foreign policy by main international actors and to construct a "map" of institutions and political and administrative subjects, mapping their interconnections, interests and the determinants of decisions.
A task for 2014 was to focus specifically on the case of Russian Federation (development of research methodology, collection of data).
Main publications:
Jakniūnaitė, D. 2014. Kritinės saugumo studijos XXI amžiuje: kur kreipti Lietuvos saugumo politikos tyrimus? Lietuvos metinė strateginė apžvalga 2013–2014. Vilnius: Generolo Jono Žemaičio Lietuvos karo akademija, vol. 12, 31–49.
Jakniūnaitė, D. 2014. Russia and Lithuania. In eds. Karmo Tüür, Viacheslav Morozov, RUSSIAN FEDERATION 2014: short-term prognosis. Tartu : University Press of Estonia, 133–135.
National Research Projects
Research Council of Lithuania. Lithuanian Foreign Policy since 2004: between Stability and Change. (No. MIP-012/2013). Assoc. Prof. Dr. D. Jakniunaite. 2013–2014.
The goal of the project is to analyze the main changes and trends in Lithuania’s foreign policy from 2004 till 2012, contributing to the small states foreign policy analysis and the Lithuania’s foreign policy thinking by revealing the opportunities and limits for its development.
The main trends of Lithuania’s foreign policy and basic inferences about the determinants of small states foreign policy are summarized and presented in the collective monograph “Ambicingas dešimtmetis: Lietuvos užsienio politika 2004-2014” [Ambitious decade: Lithuanian foreign policy in 2004–2014] (ed. by Dovilė Jakniūnaitė).
Research Council of Lithuania. Lithuanian-Belarussian Relations in the Politics of History of Lithuania Republic and Belarus Republic (No. TAP-LB-12-023). Prof. Dr. R. Lopata. 2013–2014.
The project aims to examine the Belarusian-Lithuanian ongoing politics of history, highlighting the dominant historical narratives and defining their interests to reveal their geopolitical and perpetuating geo-cultural identity, to assess their challenges in Lithuanian-Belarusian relations. A joint publication was prepared (currently in print), with contributions from Lithuanian and Belarusian scholars on the historical policies of both countries and the recommendations for policy makers were developed.
Research Council of Lithuania. The Factors of the Stability of Belarusian Regime and Trends of its Change. (No. MIP-108). Dr. J. Neliupšienė. 2012–2014.
The project is aimed at analysing and determining assumptions of the continuity of Belarusian regime. The researchers examine the internal factors and assumptions of regime stability: both subjective and objective, which ensure the long life of the political regime through settling political institutions and social norms. As well, the research focuses on external factors in order to determine the vulnerability of political regime stability in Belarus.
Main publications:
Pranevičiūtė-Neliupšienė, J., Janeliūnas, T., Jonavičius, L., Jurkonis, V., Vaičiūnaitė, K., Maksimiuk, Z., Beržiūnas, V., Pikčiūnas, T., Kasčiūnas, L., Jachovič, J. 2014. Belarusian regime longevity: happily ever after...: a joint monograph. Vilnius: Vilnius University Publishing House, 320 p.
International Research Projects
Marie Curie Actions. EU-PREACC— Possibilities and limits, challenges and obstacles of transferring CEE EU pre-accession best practices and experience to Moldova’s and Georgia's pre-accession process, project Manager. Assoc. Prof. Dovilė Jakniūnaitė. 2013–2017.
The research will cover areas of the EU-Moldova and EU-Georgia cooperation, linked to both, the European NeighbourhoodPolicy Action Plan and the EU conditionality. It looks at Moldova’s and Georgia's economic, legal and political situation and development. The focus of the project and project-related research is structuring the CEE states’ reform experience and analysing the possibilities and limits of transferring the best practices and experience to Moldova’s and Georgia’s (possible) EUpre-accession process. It analyses the situation in Moldova and Georgia and suggests benchmarking opportunities best suitable for Moldova and Georgia. The results of the analysis and researchers/lecturers exchange are wrapped up via regular thematic workshops and publications. The output of the research results is also used in improving and developing the EU-related curricula and courses in all the participating universities: in Tartu, Vilnius, Moldova and Georgia.
MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS
Military Academy of Lithuania
The Higher School of Economics, Moscow (Russia)
Baltic Defence College, Tartu (Estonia)
The Institute of International Affairs and Center for Small States Studies, University of Iceland
OTHER SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES
Assoc. Prof. T. Janeliūnas -
- editor-in-Chief of the journals Politologija (Political Science) and Lithuanian Foreign Policy Review.
Prof. R. Lopata -
- editorial board member of the journals Politologija (Political Science), Lithuanian Foreign Policy Review, Lithuanian Annual Strategic Review.
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL THEORY
10 Vokiečių, LT-01130 Vilnius
Tel. 219 3154, fax 5 251 4134
E-mail
Head - Prof. Dr. Alvydas Jokubaitis
STAFF
Professors: Dr. A. Jokubaitis, Dr. A. Ramonaitė.
Associate professors: Dr. N.Arlauskaitė, Dr. K.Girnius, Dr. A. Jankauskas, Dr. D. Jastramskis, Dr. A. Lukošaitis, Dr. P. Ragauskas, Dr. I. Vinogradnaitė.
Senior research fellows: Dr. N. Putinaitė,
Lecturers: Dr. J. Dementavičius, Dr. L. Gudžinskas, Dr. M. Jastramskis, Dr. I. Petronytė, Dr. M. Saukaitė.
Assistants and junior research fellows: J. Kavaliauskaitė, L. Kreivytė, Dr. R. Kuokštytė, L. Mažylytė
Doctoral students: R. Bakutis, G. Karalius, V. Mačkinis, A. Meškytė, A. Pūras, L. Strupinskienė, J. Ulinskaitė, E. Verseckaitė.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Modern political theory and methodology
Political communication and public relations
Party system and electoral process
Democratization process in Lithuania
RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2014
National Research Projects
Research Council of Lithuania. Film Adaptation: Between Narratology and Cultural Criticism. (No. MIP-077/2013). Assoc. Prof. Dr. Natalija Arlauskaite. 2013–2014.
The aim is to propose a new model for the analysis of film adaptations and to apply it to diverse intercultural examples. The main material of the research and book is film adaptations of the novels “The Idiot” and “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky produced in Russia, USA, France, Finland, Japan, Italy, Poland, and Brazil.
Main publications:
Arlauskaitė, N. 2014. Savi ir svetimi olimpai: ekranizacijso tarp pasakojimo teorijos ir kultūros kritikos. Vilnius: Vilniaus universiteto leidykla, 352 p.
Research Council of Lithuania. Invisible society of Soviet-era Lithuania: the revision of distinction between systemic and non-systemic social networks. Prof. Dr. Aine Ramonaite. 2012–2014.
The major goal of the research is to conceptualize and determine the underlying distinction between informal social networks that cohabitated and reproduced (post)totalitarian communist system, and social networks that generated alternative social lifeworlds and were poorly tolerated by the state.
The results were presented an the conference, organized by International Sociological Association, as well as international conference was organized in Vilnius, in 2014, to discuss the analysis of networks in general, and during soviet-era in particular.
Main publications:
Ramonaitė, A. 2014. Trust under conditions of extreme risk: exploring trust networks of clandestine activities. Facing an unequal world: challenges for global sociology. Proceedings of the 18th ISA World Congress of Sociology, 13–19 July, 2014, Yokohama, Japan. Yokohama: International Sociological Association, p. 795.
Kavaliauskaitė, J. 2014. This ain’t mere eco-nationalism: undervalued cultural roots of the Lithuanian Green movement. Facing an unequal world: challenges for global sociology. Proceedings of the 18th ISA World Congress of Sociology, 13–19 July, 2014, Yokohama, Japan. Yokohama : International Sociological Association, p. 475.
Research Council of Lithuania. The Politics of History as a Source of Geopolitical and Geocultural Identity. (No. VAT-31/2012). Prof. Dr. R. Lopata. 2012–2014
The goals of the projects are to investigate and evaluate the geo-political factors (Poland, Belarus, the Russian political history, the historical discourse of the EU) of the Lithuania’s historical identity, their interactions and tensions as well as to to investigate and evaluate the interaction between the political and historical consciousness, historical memory, reconstructing the defining discourses.
Main publications:
Lopata, R., Dementavičius, J., Gudžinskas, L., Jokubaitis, A., Laurinavičius, Č., Merkinaitė, S., Nikžentaitis, A., Radžvilas, V., Vinogradnaitė, I. 2014. Valstybė ir istorija. Vilnius: Vilniaus universiteto leidykla, 240 p.
Research Council of Lithuania. Lithuanian National Electoral Study. (No. MIP-17). Assoc. Prof. A. Ramonaitė. 2012–2014
The goal is to build the empirical and methodological foundation for long-term systemic Lithuanian people's political behavior research to determine the Lithuanian public political behavior characteristics and factors in 2012, as well as summarize their transformation during the 20-year period of multiparty elections in Lithuania during the election process.
Main publications:
Ramonaitė A. et al. 2014. Kaip renkasi Lietuvos rinkėjai? Idėjos, interesai ir įvaizdžiai politikoje. Vilnius: Vilniaus universiteto leidykla, 308 p.
International Research Projects
EU Lifelong Learning programme. Erasmus academic network "PADEMIA". Project coordinator: Dr. Katjana Gattermann, University of Cologne (Germany), IIRPS academic staff involved: Assoc. Prof. Dr. I. Vinogradnaitė. 2013–2016.
The primary objective is to bring together academics involved in research and teaching on the Parliamentary Democracy in Europe in order to overcome persisting disciplinary and geographical divides in EU studies. Project activities include network-wide annual interdisciplinary conferences, international seminars, PhD schools, lecture series, etc. online paper series, a student paper competition, annual research and teaching awards.
MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS
Creighton University (USA)
Public Policy and Management Institute (Lithuania)
Lithuanian Institute of History (Lithuania)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES
Prof. A. Jokubaitis -
- editorial board member of the journal Politologija (Political Science), Politeja and Horyzonty Polityki (Horizons of Politics).
Prof. A. Ramonaitė -
- editorial board member of the journals Baltic Journal of Political Science and Politologija (Political Science).
- member of the State Progress Council
Assoc. Prof. A. Jankauskas -
- editorial board member of the journals and series: Lithuanian Foreign Policy Review, Lithuanian Strategic Annual Review, Politologija (Political Science).
Dr. L. Gudžinskas -
- editor-in-Chief of the journal Baltic Journal of Political Science;
- President of the Lithuanian Political Science Association.