Europos studijos Lietuvoje: trumpalaikis susižavėjimas ar neišnaudotos galimybės?

LTDarbe pristatomi nuo nepriklausomybės atkūrimo iki dabar Lietuvoje atlikti pagrindiniai moksliniai tyrimai Europos integracijos ir Lietuvos integracijos į ES srityje, įvertinama esama jų būklė bei prognozuojami aktualiausi ateityje Europos studijų klausimai. Pagrindinis tokios apžvalgos tikslas – akademinės bendruomenės dalyvio akimis įsivertinti Europos politikos ir ekonomikos studijų būklę, atliktus tyrimus ir jų raidą, kartu iškeliant keletą probleminių klausimų. Pirmiausia, kas lėmė vyraujančias tyrimų kryptis ir kiek jos ir jose pateikiami aiškinimai atitinka bendras Europos studijų Vakarų akademijoje tendencijas. Antra, įvertinti, kaip pasikeitė Europos studijos per šį maždaug septyniolikos metų laikotarpį, kuris ne tik sutapo su politologijos (bei kitų socialinių) mokslų plėtra Lietuvoje, bet ir radikaliais pokyčiais Lietuvos ir ES santykiuose nuo Lietuvos nepriklausomos valstybės pripažinimo ir oficialių santykių su ES užmezgimo iki Lietuvos narystės ES bei dalyvavimo jos veikloje. Tai neišvengiamai susiję su mokslinių tyrimų ir praktinės politikos pokyčių ryšio, taip pat pačių analitikų mokslinės ir praktinės veiklos, kurios iki šiol yra glaudžiai susipynusios, klausimu. Trečia, įvertinti ne tik tai, kas padaryta, bet ir ko trūksta, o tai savo ruožtu suteikia pagrindą brėžti gaires ateities tyrimams, išlaikant akiratyje būsimus svarbius Lietuvos Europos politikos darbotvarkės klausimus ir praktinį analitinių vertinimų poreikį. Ši analizė grindžiama prielaida, kad tokio pobūdžio akademinė savirefleksija naudinga ne tik patiems Europos studijų tyrinėtojams (mokslininkams, studentams), bet ir tokius tyrimus planuojančioms ar užsakančioms institucijoms. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Apžvalga; Europos integracija; Europos studijos; Europos studijos Lietuvoje; European integration; European studies; European studies in Lithuania; Lithuania; Overview.

ENThe article analyses the European studies, defined as political science (and to some extent economics and law) research where the European Union (EU) is treated either as independent or dependent variable, in Lithuania since the reestablishment of independence in 1990. It discusses the main issues researched and their dynamics, the main factors behind the changing landscape of European studies and the potential future trends. The main purpose of the article is to reflect on the development of European political and economic studies in Lithuania, raising several questions. First, what factors have been behind the changing subjects of European studies in Lithuania and how do they compare with the European studies in Western (North American and West European) academia during half a century since the creation of European Communities. It reviews major social science, in particular political science, journals, books published on the EU and Lithuania, and PhD dissertations completed at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science (Vilnius University) which is the leading institution in the field of European studies in Lithuania. It maintains that the subjects of European studies have been closely linked to the actual political agenda of Lithuania and the EU and in this respect follow similar pattern as the EU studies in Western academia which went through several stages following the actual developments in the EC/EU. For the English speaking readers one book is worth mentioning. It is the book on Lithuania’s membership negotiations with the EU which has been prepared by a group of analysts some of which also took active part in accession negotiations and which is probably the most elaborate study of EU’s accession negotiations with Central and Eastern European countries published in English.Second, and related question of the article is what have been the dominant subjects of European studies in Lithuania since 1990 and how do they relate to political developments between the EU and Lithuania as well as the nature of academic community in Lithuania. It maintains that during the first stage of EU and Lithuania relations which lasted until the start of membership negotiations most academic research focused on association policy, general patterns of European integration and to some extent the impact o the EU on Lithuania’s external and domestic policies. During the periods from the start of accession negotiations until joining the EU in 2004, research shifted more towards to possible effects of EU membership on Lithuania’s domestic policies and institutions (including regulation and redistribution policies, institutional structures), analysis of membership negotiations. After the accession research on the impact of the EU on Lithuania (Europeanization) continued, although gradually more attention has been given to the EU’s internal processes (negotiations of financial perspective, role of interest groups, etc.). The article also discusses the web of institutions which host scholars involved in European studies. It maintains that until now there is no academic community which is involved only in academic research on the EU related issues. Rather, most analysts who are active in European studies are also involved into consulting or other type of work with the state institutions. At the same time, the academic relations with colleagues in Western Academia are so far based on personal working links rather than joint systematic research, and most academic work in Lithuania is almost entirely limited to the on country (Lithuania) case studies.Third, taking into account the experience with European studies so far, to suggest possible future developments of this academic field in Lithuania, in such a way providing a map of potential subject of future research. The article argues that in the future several areas of European studies in Lithuania are likely to dominate the field: European energy policy, EU Eastern neighborhood policy, domestic reforms in Lithuania (high education, health care) and the use of EU instruments, EU internal market and external economic policy issues. It is maintained that the forthcoming Lithuania’s Presidency of the EU in 2013 will become a second major factor after joining the EU stimulating political as well as academic interest in the European policy issues. The analysis is based on the assumption that this type of reflection provided by a member of European research community could be useful both to the students of European studies and institutions which provide funding for the EU related research. [From the publication]

• Politikos mokslai / Political sciences
• Ekonomika / Economics
• Edukologija / Education