ENThe text consists of three main parts: 1) introduction concerning concepts used in the field, description of legal status of the third sector in Lithuania and discussion about theoretical and practical problematique of the NGOs; 2) overview of philosophical-cultural, political, sociological and public administration approaches towards civil society, NGOs, community, collective action and others; 3) presentation and interpretation of the research data on NGOs in Kaunas region, 2002. Through the paper attention is given to methodological explanations of the phenomena observed and described. Authors provide extensive footnotes, references, suggest questions and topics for further study and discussion. [From the publication]