Institute of International Relations and Political Science

Sukurta: 01 August 2017

tspmi 10 Vokiečių, LT-01130 Vilnius
Tel. 251 4130, fax 251 4134
E-mail:
www http://www.tspmi.vu.lt

Director – Prof. Dr. Ramūnas Vilpišauskas

STAFF

35 teachers (incl. 24 holding research degree), 2 research fellows holding research degree, 18 doctoral students.

Department of European Studies
Department of International Relations
Department of Political Theory

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 2016

I. Koreivaitė. Assessing Iranian foreign policy through the perspective of Khumayni’s concept of justice.

MAIN CONFERENCES ORGANIZED IN 2016

International conference Statehood and Its Discontents: Russia, Eastern Europe and Eurasia (A Joint Miami University Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies and Vilnius University Institute of International Relations and Political Science Conference)

International conference 25 Years of Trust Building in the Face of Global Challenges

National conference Election Year: A Test for Authorities or Democracy?

Winter School Post Crimea Security Environment and Small States (co-organizer: The Institute of International Affairs and Centre for Small State Studies at the University of Iceland)

MAIN SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2016

Joining the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES), a collaborative program of research

DEPARTMENT OF EUROPEAN STUDIES

10 Vokiečių, LT-01130 Vilnius
Tel. 251 4142, fax 251 4134
E-mail:

Head – Prof. Dr. Gediminas Vitkus

STAFF

Professors: Dr. V. Nakrošis, Dr. V. Radžvilas, Dr. R.Vilpišauskas, Dr. G. Vitkus.
Associate professors: Dr. E. Barcevičius, Dr. V. Kuokštis, Dr. Ž. Martinaitis.
Lecturers: Dr. L. Kasčiūnas, Dr. D. Jonavičienė.
Assistants and junior research fellows: I. Giedraitytė, L. Jurkonis, A. Mozūras, V. Pukinaitė, R. Stasiukynaitė
Doctoral students: M. Bernatavičius, I. Giedraitytė, L. Kojala, M. Skuodis, D. Skusevičienė.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Europeanization process in the EU member states
EU enlargement and EU institutional reforms
Public administration reforms and public policy change

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2016

National Research Projects

Research Council of Lithuania. Good Governance and Trust in Public Institutions Creating Welfare Society in Lithuania (No. GER-003/2015). Assoc. Prof. Dr. L. Gudžinskas. 2015–2017.

This project aims at uniting three important concepts of social sciences – institutions, trust and good governance – and explain the welfare society development in Lithuania as well as to provide a policy brief for decision‐makers. Three objectives are identified: to construct a theoretical model which substantiates the impact of public policy on social and political trust; to generate a regression analysis which explores correlation between interpersonal trust and trust in political institutions and to use process‐tracing analysis to compare key public policies and their impact on political trust in Lithuania and Estonia; to provide recommendations how to fix public policies and ensure higher political trust in Lithuania.

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.

Horizon 2020. The EU and Eastern Partnership Countries: An Inside-Out Analysis and Strategic Assessment. Prof. R. Vilpišauskas. 2016–2019.

The main goal of the project is to investigate under what conditions the EU strategies and instruments for its Eastern neighbours can be more effective.
Ten years after its inception, the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) has fallen short of accomplishing its mission. The war in Ukraine and the rising tensions with Russia have made a re-assessment of the ENP both more urgent and more challenging. This project will address two questions: first, why has the EU fallen short of creating peace, prosperity and stability in its Eastern neighbourhood? Second, what can be done to strengthen the EU transformative power in supporting political and economic change in the six Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries? The findings will be submitted to the European Commission.

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 Sunset Commission, State Progress Council.

Prof. V. Nakrošis –

editorial board member of the journal Administrative Culture.

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

10 Vokiečių, LT-01130 Vilnius
Tel. 251 4139, fax 251 4134
E-mail:

Head – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tomas Janeliūnas

STAFF

Professor: Dr. T. Janeliūnas.
Senior research fellow: Prof. Dr. R. Lopata.
Associate professors: Dr. K. Andrijauskas, Dr. D. Jakniūnaitė, Dr. V. Sirutavičius, Dr. M. Šešelgytė, Dr. D.Šlekys.
Lecturers: Dr. L. Jonavičius, Dr. D. Jurgelevičiūtė, Dr. E. Leonaitė,
Research fellow: Dr. N. Maliukevičius.
Assistants and Junior research fellows: G. Biržytė, V. Jurkonis, L. Koreivaitė-Sadauskienė, R. Švedas.
Doctoral students: M. Antonovič, G. Bartusevičiūtė, V. Beržiūnas, A. Raginytė, N. Stankevičius, A. Tumkevič.

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 2016

National Research Projects

Research Council of Lithuania. Conceptualizing Borders in 21st Century: Discourses and Practices in Central Eastern Europe. (No. MIP-027/2015). Dr. D. Jakniūnaitė. 2015–2017.

Project seeks to analyse the conflict, crisis situations, and as an object of analysis choose the Central Eastern European region, the territorial conflicts of Ukraine and Georgia in particular and also Lithuania as a different kind of conflict situation, and also includes the analysis of Russia, the significant actor in all contexts. The goal is to analyse the 21st century bordering practices in Central Eastern Europe in conflict situations (the cases of Ukraine, Georgia and Lithuania) by demonstrating the connection between and the role of political, historical, and day to day practices.

Research Council of Lithuania. Challenges of Russian Military Reform. (No. REP-8/2015). Dr. D. Šlekys. 2015–2016.

The goal of this project is to publish two publications concerning political and social dimensions of Russian military reform and one paper about specifics of research and analysis of Russian open and public sources. Recent Russian military reform gets a lot of attention; however, main research is about changes in the structure of armed forces and procurement questions. In order to have a comprehensive view of this reform it is necessary to focus on domestic political and social questions, too.

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. D. Jakniūnaitė. 2013–2017.

The research covers areas of the EU-Moldova and EU-Georgia cooperation, linked to both, the European Neighbourhood Policy 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) EU pre-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 European Union-related curricula and courses in all participating universities: in Tartu, Vilnius, Moldova and Georgia.

ERASMUS+ programme via the National Agency in Iceland under the project number: 2014-1-IS01-KA203-000177. States in Europe: Opportunities and Challenges. Dr. D. Jakniūnaitė. 2014–2016.

The overall objective of the project is to create a dynamic consortium of essential transnational strategic partners. The project will focus on innovative teaching, research and publishing in the field of small state studies and European integration. Certain mobility activities for students and teachers will be utilized in order to reach the objectives. The activities will be based on four interlinked key teaching and research pillars: Pillar 1: The role of small states in European integration; Pillar 2: Small and smart: Innovation and entrepreneurship in small states; Pillar 3: Best practices and good governance in small states; Pillar 4: Promoting sustainable development in small states.

Horizon 2020. The EU and Eastern Partnership Countries: An Inside-Out Analysis and Strategic Assessment. Prof. R. Vilpišauskas. 2016–2019.

The main goal of the project is to investigate under what conditions the EU’s strategies and instruments for its Eastern neighbours can be more effective.
Ten years after its inception, the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) has fallen short of accomplishing its mission. The war in Ukraine and the rising tensions with Russia have made a re-assessment of the ENP both more urgent and more challenging. This project will address two questions: first, why has the EU fallen short of creating peace, prosperity and stability in its Eastern neighbourhood? Second, what can be done to strengthen the EU’s transformative power in supporting political and economic change in the six Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries? The findings will be submitted to the European Commission.

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS

Military Academy of Lithuania (Lithuania)
Higher School of Economics (Moscow)
Baltic Defence College (Tartu)
Institute of International Affairs and Centre for Small States Studies, University of Iceland (Iceland)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES

Assoc. Prof. D. Jakniūnaitė -

editor-in-chief of the journal Lithuanian Foreign Policy Review.

Prof. T. Janeliūnas -

editor-in-chief of the journal Politologija (Political Science).

Prof. R. Lopata -

editorial board member of the journal 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. N. Arlauskaitė, Dr. V. Davoliūtė, Dr. A. Jokubaitis, Dr. A. Ramonaitė.
Associate professors: Dr. J. Dementavičius, Dr. K. Girnius, Dr. L. Gudžinskas, Dr. A. Jankauskas, Dr. D. Jastramskis, Dr. M. Jastramskis, Dr. I. Vinogradnaitė.
Senior research fellow: Dr. N. Putinaitė.
Lecturers: J. Kavaliauskaitė, Dr. I. Petronytė.
Assistants and junior research fellows: R. Bakutis, A. Dementavičienė, G. Karalius, V. Mačkinis, P. Skirkevičius, J. Stašienė, L. Vervečkienė.
Doctoral students: R. Bakutis, A. Dementavičienė, G. Karalius, A. Pūras, P. Skirkevičius, J. Stašienė, L. Vervečkienė.

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 2016

National Research Projects

Research Council of Lithuania. Good Governance and Trust in Public Institutions Creating Welfare Society in Lithuania (No. GER-003/2015). Assoc. Prof. Dr. L. Gudžinskas. 2015–2017.

Research Council of Lithuania. Lithuanian National Election Study 2016 (LIP-023/2016). Prof. Dr. A. Ramonaitė. 2016–2018.

Lithuanian National Election Study 2016 is conducted by the team of the International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University and the Baltic Institute of Advanced Technologies. It will include a post-election survey with integrated CSES Module 5, a survey of the candidates to the Lithuanian parliament and a qualitative study of political attitudes and reception of strategic political communication.

Research Council of Lithuania. Soviet Life as Oral History: Challenges In Memory (Re)Construction (No. APP-10/2016). Assoc. Prof. Dr. I. Vinogradnaitė. 2016–2018.

The aim of the project is to develop theoretically and epistemologically justified guidelines for collecting, archiving and analysing ‘oral histories’ as a source of memory about Soviet life, and to collect new oral history data on the logic, experience and memory of Soviet social engineering projects. The objectives are (1) to develop theoretically and epistemologically adequate methodology of oral history on Soviet times, where “adequacy” means that methodological tools take into account the challenges of reconstructing memory of life in Soviet regime; (2) to conduct interviews with direct witnesses and survivors of Soviet regime (especially its early stages in the Baltic states) in order to preserve currently available information which is on the brink of disappearance, and to prepare this material for secondary analysis; (3) to analyse the interviews (their contents, structure, the process of interviewing, the process of the analysis of interviews) with an aim to identify social mechanisms and memory regimes which have to be taken into account in collecting and archiving ‘oral history’ as a source of information about Soviet life.

International Research Projects

EU Lifelong Learning programme. Erasmus academic network "PADEMIA". Project coordinator: Dr. K. 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 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, Nebraska (USA)
Public Policy and Management Institute (Lithuania)
Lithuanian Institute of History (Lithuania)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES

Prof. A. Jokubaitis -

editorial board member of the journals 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.