Institute of International Relations and Political Science

Institute of International Relations and Political Science

Sukurta: 09 June 2021

tspmi10 Vokiečių, LT-01130 Vilnius
Tel. 251 4130
E-mail:
www: http://www.tspmi.vu.lt
Director – Assoc. Prof. Dr Margarita Šešelgytė

 

STAFF

53 teachers (incl. 33 holding research degree), 4 research fellows (incl. 4 holding research degree), 19 doctoral students.

DEPARTMENTS OF THE FACULTY

Department of Political Philosophy and History of Ideas
Department of Political Behaviour and Institutions
Department of International Relations
Center of European Studies
Public Administration and Policy Analysis Center
The (Post)Soviet Memory Studies Center

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 2020

M. Antonovič. Poland’s relations with Russia 2001–2013: attempts at normalisation.

MAIN CONFERENCES ORGANIZED IN 2020

International conference Deep Transformations: Emotional Experiences in the Post-Communist Change.

MAIN SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2020

Tomas Janeliūnas. Monograph: Foreign Policy Analysis of a Baltic State: Lithuania and 'Grybauskaitė Doctrine'. London: Routledge.

Natalija Arlauskaitė. Monograph: Nuožmi taika. Žlugusių režimų fotografija dokumentiniame kine (Fierce Peace. Photography of Failed Regimes in Documentary Cinema). Vilnius: Vilniaus universiteto leidykla, 2020.

Marijus Bernatavičius. Independence of the ECB and the ECJ during the Sovereign Debt Crisis: From Active Leadership to Rubber-Stamping?. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies, 2020.

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL BEHAVIOR AND INSTITUTIONS

10 Vokiečių, LT-01130 Vilnius
Tel. 2514130
E-mail:
Head – Prof. Dr Ainė Ramonaitė

STAFF

Professor: Dr A. Ramonaitė.
Associate professors: Dr J. Dementavičius, Dr L. Gudžinskas, Dr M. Jastramskis, Dr D. Šlekys, Dr I. Vinogradnaitė.
Teaching assistants: Dr N. Maliukevičius, Dr I. Petronytė-Urbonavičienė, Dr L. Strupinskienė, Dr J. Ulinskaitė.
Research assistant: J. Kavaliauskaitė.
Lecturer: V. Jurkonis.
Doctoral students: A. Dementavičienė, R. Garškaitė, P. Skirkevičius, L. Vervečkienė, V. Budreckaitė.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Party politics and electoral behaviour
Civil society, political participation, political attitudes and political communication
Democracy, political institutions, comparative politics
Studies of the Soviet-era society, Sąjūdis, collective memory of post-Soviet society

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

10 Vokiečių, LT-01130 Vilnius
Tel. 2514130
E-mail:
Head – Prof. Dr Dovilė Jakniūnaitė

STAFF

Professors: Dr N. Arlauskaitė, Dr T. Janeliūnas, Dr D. Jakniūnaitė, Dr R. Vilpišauskas, Dr G. Vitkus.
Associate professors: Dr K. Andrijauskas, Dr V. Kuokštis, Dr V. Sirutavičius, Dr M. Šešelgytė, Dr D. Šlekys.
Teaching assistants: Dr L. Jonavičius, Dr I. Koreivaitė, Dr V. Beržiūnas, Dr E. Leonaitė, Dr N. Maliukevičius, Dr L. Strupinskienė.
Lecturers: G. Biržytė, V. Jurkonis.
Doctoral students: N. Bladaitė, I. Giedraitytė, J. Jachovič, J. Lingevičius, N. Mataitytė, A. Raginytė, I. Skurdauskaitė, A. Žukauskas.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Analysis of global political processes, environment and structures
International relations; international law; international political economy; international institutions; the foreign policy of great powers; the changing nature of world power etc.
Area studies: Analysis of Russia, Europe (focusing on Eastern and Southern countries), Middle East; Eastern and Southern Asia; Latin America
Security and conflict studies
Analysis of Lithuanian foreign policy as well as its security policy

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY OF IDEAS

10 Vokiečių, LT-01130 Vilnius
Tel. 2514130
E-mail:
Head – Prof. Dr Alvydas Jokubaitis

STAFF

Professors: Dr V. Davoliūtė, Dr A. Jokubaitis.
Associate professors: Dr J. Dementavičius, Dr A. Jankauskas, Dr V. Sirutavičius, Dr I. Vinogradnaitė.
Senior researcher: Dr N. Putinaitė.
Teaching assistants: Dr V. Bartininkas, Dr L. Jokubaitis, Dr G. Karalius, Dr V. Mačkinis.
Research assistant: J. Kavaliauskaitė.
Professor of practice: Dr K. Girnius.
Doctoral students: A. Dementavičienė, G. Norkūnaitė, V. Rimaitė, D. Kaminskas.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Politics and the self
Three strategies of accelerating political modernization: interwar period, soviet years and the post-soviet era
Contradictions of modern political life
The relationship between democracy and republic

CENTER OF EUROPEAN STUDIES

10 Vokiečių, LT-01130 Vilnius
Tel. 2514130
E-mail:
Head – Prof. Dr Gediminas Vitkus

STAFF

Professors: Dr R. Vilpišauskas, Dr G. Vitkus.
Associate professors: Dr L. Gudžinskas, Dr V. Kuokštis.
Senior researcher: Dr N. Putinaitė.
Teaching assistants: Dr E. Leonaitė, Dr G. Karalius.
Research assistant: R. Švedas.
Professor of practice: Dr D. Kriaučiūnas.
Doctoral students: I. Giedraitytė, S. A. Spurga.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

The topics related to contemporary Europe from its internal structure to its place in a wider world focusing on the European Union and its member states

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY ANALYSIS CENTRE

10 Vokiečių, LT-01130 Vilnius
Tel. 2514130
E-mail:
Head – Prof. Dr Vitalis Nakrošis

STAFF

Professors: Dr V. Nakrošis, Dr R. Vilpišauskas.
Associate professors: Dr E. Barcevičius, Dr Ž. Martinaitis, Dr V. Kuokštis.
Teaching assistant: Dr I. Petronytė-Urbonavičienė.
Research assistants: R. Švedas, L. Jurkonis, V. Pukinaitė.
Doctoral students: R. Bortkevičiūtė, I. Patkauskaitė – Tiuchtienė.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Research in all areas of the discipline: public administration, public policy process and public policy analysis

THE (POST)SOVIET MEMORY STUDIES CENTER

10 Vokiečių, LT-01130 Vilnius
Tel. 2514130
E-mail:
www.memory.tspmi.vu.lt
Head – Prof. Dr Ainė Ramonaitė

STAFF

Professors: Dr A. Ramonaitė, Dr V. Davoliūtė.
Associate professors: Dr I. Vinogradnaitė, Dr J. Dementavičius.
Teaching assistant: Dr J. Ulinskaitė.
Research assistants: J. Kavaliauskaitė, M. Pakalnytė.
Doctoral students: V.Budreckaitė, R. Garškaitė, L. Vervečkienė.

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2020

Projects Supported by University Budget

The Concept of Progress in Lithuania: from Idea to Policy. Dr V. Mačkinis, Dr V. Bartninkas, Dr I. Budginaitė-Mačkinė. 2020.

The aim of this project is to analyse the concept of the idea of progress in Lithuania through an interdisciplinary approach. The goal of the analysis of the concept of progress in Lithuania is to examine what theories and interpretations of progress are followed, what model of progress, including both value beliefs and assumptions, and their transfer to strategic documents, is developed and internalized in the country. Based on result of the project, researchers prepared a draft paper and a comment in the mass media.

National Research Projects

Research Council of Lithuania. Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Lithuania and other EU Member States: an Impact on Public Policy and the Management of the Emergency Situation (COPOVAL) (No. S-COV-20-13). Prof. Dr V. Nakrošis, Prof. Dr R. Vilpišauskas, Assoc. Prof. Dr V. Kuokštis, PhD student R. Bortkevičiūtė, MA student P. Kalkytė. 2020.

Using insights from the public policy and administration as well as other disciplines, the research was conducted on the response of EU member states to the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergency management process in Lithuania. The main results of the project: monograph on COVID-19 crisis management in Lithuania, policy brief, draft paper for international peer-reviewed journal, four comments based on findings of the research in the mass media and concluding event – discussion with the main decision makers of the country.

Research Council of Lithuania. The EU Defence Industry: between Protectionism and Competitiveness. Lithuania’s Opportunities in the Protectionist Sector (No 09.3.3.-LMT-K-712-22-0306). Assoc. Prof. Dr M. Šešelgytė, MA student E. Indrašiūtė. 2020–2021.

The main goal of the project is to examine the EU defence industry regulations as well as national financing regulations of the EU Member States with the largest defence industries - France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Sweden with an aim to identify compatibility issues of the EU defence industry and national policies. The project participants have already gathered data, necessary for the research and provision of recommendations for the development of the Lithuanian defence industry policy.

Research Council of Lithuania. The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Innovativeness of Lithuanian Public Sector (No 09.3.3.-LMT-K-712-22-0101). Prof. Dr V. Nakrošis, MA student P. Kalkytė. 2020–2021.

The main goal of the project is to improve the students' scientific competencies by conducting a research, which examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the innovation of Lithuanian public sector. During the project, a theoretical model was developed to identify conditions, environment, actors, and other factors relevant to innovations in public administration. The researchers identified changes in Lithuanian public sector innovativeness during the COVID-19 pandemic, which will allow providing evidence-based recommendations to policy makers.

Research Council of Lithuania. Politics of Death in Soviet Lithuania: Meaning, Rituals, Symbols, Emotions (No. P-LIP-20-54). Assoc. Prof. Dr N. Putinaitė. 2020–2023.

The project aims to explore the extent and the ways in which death was politically controlled and connected to the Soviet goals as well as the extent and the ways in which death, its meanings, and the attitudes towards it remained within the space of personal freedom. In 2020, the researcher collected data for the monograph, prepared its introduction and a draft paper for international peer-reviewed journal.

Research Council of Lithuania. Public Election Committees in Lithuania: between Localized Democracy and Representation (No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0076). Dr J. Ulinskaitė and Assoc. Prof. Dr I. Vinogradnaitė. 2020–2022.

During the project, an empirical study will be conducted to investigate whether and how the activities of members of political parties and public election committees differ in municipal councils in Lithuania. In 2020, post-doctoral student collected data for two academic articles in international peer-reviewed journals of social science and prepared a draft of one of them.

Research Council of Lithuania. Political Factors of the Middle-Income Trap in the Baltic States (TRAPPOLI) (09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0179). Assoc. Prof. Dr V. Kuokštis, Dr M. Kalanta. 2020–2022.

The research project contributes to the explanation of the middle-income trap in the Baltic States. It will demonstrate what socio-economic or interest groups dominate politics in the Baltics and how they shape economic transition policy making and implementation. Post-doctoral student has already collected data relevant for his publication in international peer-reviewed journal and prepared a draft paper.

Research Council of Lithuania. Contemporary Analogue Photography by Women from the Perspective of Feminist Visual Studies: Texts, Practices, and Identities (No 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0041). Prof. D. N. Arlauskaitė, Dr J. Šalaj. 2020–2022.

The project is a unique academic research intended for the analysis of contemporary analogous photography by women from the Baltic countries and photography practices from the perspective of feminist visual studies. During the research, the data about the works by female photographers from the Baltic countries, interviews with the creators, autoethnographic research data and the material from various analogous photography sites was collected and analysed.

Research Council of Lithuania. The Continuation or the Invention of Tradition: Cultivating Religious and National Identities among Lithuanian Immigrants in Norway (No. 09.3.3.-LMT-K-712). Dr E. Kesylytė-Alliks. 2020–2022.

The overall objective of this project is to explore the role that Christian religious identities and institutions play in the national socialization of individuals within the context of migration in the European region. In 2020, the researcher carried out field research in Lithuania and Norway, carried out a lecture and three seminars on the topic of her research, prepared two draft papers for international peer-reviewed journals, and actively communicated her research on social media of the IIRPS VU.

Research Council of Lithuania. Lithuanian National Electoral Study (S-LIP-19-67). Prof. Dr A. Ramonaitė, Assoc. Prof. Dr M. Jastramskis, Dr J. Ulinskaitė, PhD student J. Kavaliauskaitė, P. Vijeikis, Dr L. Pukelis, Dr V. Morkevičius, A. Vaiginytė. 2019–2021.

The aim of the project is to investigate the Lithuanian socio-political processes and regularities emerging during the election period. In 2020 representative public opinion surveys were carried out after the Seimas elections, the online voting advice application manobalsas.lt was improved, innovative methods of (semi)automated text analysis were applied to the electoral campaign analysis. The research results were presented to the Lithuanian and international academic community in conference papers and peer reviewed articles in English and Lithuanian.

International Research Projects

Erasmus +. Jean Monnet Chair project. Teaching, Researching, and Debating Contemporary European Issues (TRENDS). Prof. Dr R. Vilpišauskas. 2020–2023.

The project aims at revising, expanding, and upgrading the EU studies on both bachelor and master levels to systemically integrate contemporary European issues into the study curriculum of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science and expand accessibility of the EU studies to the students of other departments of Vilnius University. In 2020, Prof. R. Vilpišauskas prepared a syllabus of a new course, which will be implemented in spring semester as well as reviewed already existing courses related with the EU.

Latvian Institute of International Affairs. Norway-Baltic Research Network. Critical Infrastructure: Institutional Coordination and Policy Preferences. Prof. Dr R. Vilpišauskas. 2020–2021.

The project aims to ordinarily explain importance of critical infrastructure to societies of Baltic states and Norway, as well as to raise awareness and discussion among policy makers, practitioners, and mass media. In the course of the project, Prof. R. Vilpišauskas participated in a public seminar, organised in Riga, prepared analytical report on Lithuania’s case, and systematically provided comments on the topic of the project in mass media.

Nordplus Higher Education Programme. Baltic-Nordic Network for the Advancement of Methodology in Area Studies (BAMSE 2020). Prof. Dr V. Davoliūtė, Dr J. Ulinskaitė, PhD student V. Budreckaitė.

The newly established Baltic-Nordic Network for the Advancement of Methodology in Area Studies (BAMSE 2020) promotes state-of-the-art research and education in area studies in the Baltic-Nordic area by concentrating on the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of area studies. One of the key activities of BAMSE 2020 is an intensive course for advanced bachelor’s students and master’s students in autumn 2021, which will take place in Vilnius.

Erasmus +. Jean Monnet Networks: Enhancing Visibility of the Academic Dialogue on EU-Turkey Cooperation (VIADUCT). Dr I. Koreivaitė. 2017–2020.

VIADUCT’s general objective is to foster policy dialogue and to contribute to the exchange of views among academics and practitioners on recent developments in both the EU and Turkey. The aim of the project is to improve and enhance the teaching and research on this topic. The core of this project is three VIADUCT Weeks, each of which consists of an annual conference, a PhD seminar, and an Informal Policy Debate.

Erasmus +. Jean Monnet Networks: Navigating in the Storm. Prof. Dr R. Vilpišauskas, Assoc. Prof. Dr V. Kuokštis. 2017–2020.

Baldur Thorhallsson, Professor of Political Science at the University of Iceland leads the project on behalf of the University of Iceland in cooperation with Pia Hansson, Director of the Institute of International Affairs and Tómas Joensen, Project Manager at the Centre for Small State Studies. During three years of the project, ten higher education institutions developed close cooperation in the field of small state studies. The grant was used to host workshops, roundtables for young researchers, publish academic papers, policy recommendations, and an academic book.

Erasmus +. Small States Winter School Small States in Europe: Towards a Cross-Disciplinary Approach. Assoc. Prof. Dr M. Šešelgytė. 2019–2021.

The objective of this partnership is to create a pan-European consortium of experts in small state studies that will train young teachers and researchers from international relations and political science as well as other disciplines, in applying insights from small state studies to their research and teaching. The partners organized two summer academies in Reykjavík, intensive study programs in Ljubljana and Vilnius, and developed new and innovative inter-disciplinary curricula in small state studies based on four teaching and research themes.

COST activity. EU Foreign Policy Facing New Realities: Perceptions, Contestation, Communication and Relations. Prof. Dr. D. Jakniūnaitė. 2018–2022.

The main aim and objective of the Action is to improve our understanding of central properties of European Union foreign policy in times of major internal and external change and to develop strategies to help practitioners to make the EU more resilient. This Action addresses the following questions: How these new foreign policy realities could be conceptualized, how they influence European views and practices and what can be recommended to the EU.

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

Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA)
Institute of International Affairs and Centre for Small States Studies, University of Iceland (Iceland)
Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki (Finland)
University of Tartu (Estonia)
Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (Norway)

OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Prof. N. Arlauskaitė –

Prof. D. Jakniūnaitė -

Prof. T. Janeliūnas -

Prof. A. Jokubaitis -

Prof. V. Nakrošis –

Prof. A. Ramonaitė –

Prof. R. Vilpišauskas -

Prof. G. Vitkus -

Assoc. Prof. L. Gudžinskas -

Assoc. Prof. A. Jankauskas -

Assoc. Prof. M. Šešelgytė -

Dr N. Maliukevičius -

BEST REPORTS DELIVERED AT CONFERENCES ABROAD

  •  Assoc. Prof. Mažvydas Jastramskis. Foreign Policy Preferences and Vote Choice Under Semi-Presidentialism: Case of 2019 Lithuanian Presidential Elections. ECPR General Conference, Online.
  • Dr Vilius Bartninkas. Xenocrates on the Physical Dimensions of Ouranos. London Ancient Science Conference, London.
  • J. Kavaliauskaitė. Architect(ure)s of Tech-saturated life. EASST/4S 2020 conference Locating and Timing Matters: Significance and Agency of STS in Emerging Worlds. Prague/online.
  • Dr Lina Strupinskienė. ICTY and Grassroots Mobilization for Justice: Insights from Bosnia and Herzegovina. ECPR General Conference, Online.
  • Assoc. Prof. Vytautas Kuokštis. Drivers of bilateral aid of EU member states: Evidence from a time-series cross-section analysis. ECPR General Conference, Online.

MOST IMPORTANT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AWARDS RECEIVED FOR R&D ACTIVITIES

  • Prof. N. Arlauskaitė. Vilnius University Rector’s Science Award.
  • Prof. R. Vilpišauskas. Jean Monnet Chair position.

MOST IMPORTANT PARTICIPATION CASES OF RESEARCHERS IN WORKING GROUPS OR COMMISSIONS SET UP BY STATE AUTHORITIES, STATE AND MUNICIPAL INSTITUTIONS, ORGANISATIONS, BUSINESS ENTITIES

  • N. Arlauskaitė - member of the Film Indexing Commission
  • T. Janeliūnas - member of the Judicial Ethics and Discipline Commission
  • R. Vilpišauskas - member of the Commission for the Improvement of Public Administration (Sunset Commission)
  • L. Jonavičius – member of the Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission
  • R. Švedas – member of the board at LTG (Lithuanian Railways)

CONSULTATIONS PROVIDED BY THE UNIT TO THE PUBLIC OR ECONOMIC ENTITIES

  • Newsletter ”I think!” (”Topicalities! What do you think?”) – materials for history, civil education, and geography teachers at secondary schools
  • Trainings for the Policy Monitoring Network ”Learn before you vote”
  • Voting advice application (VAA) “Mano Balsas” (www.manobalsas.lt)
  • Academic consultancy (Assoc. Prof. Justinas Dementavičius) for creators of exhibition “Spiritual Children of Fribourg: Lithuanians at the University of Fribourg and Their Importance for Lithuania” organised by Church Heritage Museum

MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES

  • Comments of political events and phenomena for mass media (interviews, written comments, debates) – 42 researchers and PhD students made comments in 2020 (total number of comments (including repetitions) is appr. 5 000). The main topics were the functioning of Lithuanian party system and political institutions, national elections, Russian foreign and domestic policy, American politics.
  • Article series in the 15min.lt, dedicated to promoting research; 6 articles were released in 2020.
  • Voting advice application (VAA) in Lithuania (www.manobalsas.lt) implemented for parliamentary, presidential and EP elections.
  • A weekly segment on Laba diena, Lietuva (“Good day, Lithuania”) (a TV news programme) on Lithuanian national television, where experts of international relations reviewed weekly events.
  • Series of elections-related public events in which parties presented their electoral programmes. IIRPS VU experts provided comments and remarks. The institute also hosted a speed debating session as part of Vilnius Culture Night. In total 15 events dedicated to the Parliamentary elections were hosted.