Politinio dalyvavimo tendencijos Lietuvoje

ENIn last ten years of XX century post communist countries went through great changes in all parts of state and society life. Some changes affected political participation. During the period of 1990-2000 opposite tendencies of political participation in Lithuania appeared: declining citizens’ activity in conventional forms of political participation and growing activity in protest politics. The electoral activity (in parliament elections) in the past 10 years have decreased from 75% in 1990 and 1992 to 58.6% in 2000. Electoral participation in Lithuania is lower then in most Central and East Europe states. The same tendencies of citizens’ activity remain in electoral campaigns, participation in political parties and other forms of conventional political participation. While the turnout rate of conventional participation has been declining, there was a considerable expansion of citizens’ participation in protests. During 1989-1991 protests in Lithuania were directly related with the struggle against the old political order. When the main goal to gain independence was achieved, protest activity declined. In 1992 in protest actions have participated 20% of all citizens, in 1996 - just 3% of all citizens. From 1997 there is growing interest in protest politics. Duration of protest actions in 2000 was 280 days or 8 times more then in 1997. Citizens choose direct means to influence political elite. [From the publication]