CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020
| Author | Dauksaite, Laura |
|---|---|
| Title | Post-Soviet Civil Society in Transition: Leftist Social Movements in Lithuania |
| Summary | The existing discourse on leftist movements in post-Soviet countries characterizes them as weak and isolated. This research analyzes the case of Lithuania, which has had parliamentary left parties since the democratic transition. Despite this, a new leftist movement recently began to emerge. Therefore, I answer the question, why has the political opportunity emerged for new leftist political groups despite the presence of the “old” left in the Lithuanian government? I analyze the case on several levels. Macro level analysis is based on European Value Study (EVS) 3rd pre-release of 2017 data, while for mezzo/micro level analysis I conducted 8 interviews with the members of the new leftist movement. The research reveals that a precarious society was formed by the losers of democratic transition and globalization. The opportunity for the leftist movement to arise was due to disappointment in society, formed by a long-lasting inefficiency of political parties and their inability to deal with precarious conditions in the country. The new leftist movement was formed recently because the new, more liberated generation, sharing both material and non-material values, started to enter the labor market and faced these precarious conditions on their own. Moreover, because of the nature of their value basis, the new leftist movement is dual -- an anti-austerity-care movement, fighting not only for the improvement of the precarious conditions they are facing, but also taking care of most vulnerable ones and thus creating a more inclusive and equal democracy. |
| Supervisor | Béla Greskovits |
| Department | Political Science MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2020/dauksaite_laura.pdf |
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