Citizens’ Initiatives in Lithuania: Initiative Institutions and Their Political Impact in a New Democracy

Abstract

Citizen participation in decision-making is a key element in the understanding and practice of contemporary democracy. However, ‘while there is agreement that citizens should play an informed and active role in the governance system, there is wide disagreement as to the forms and the extent that citizen participation should take’ (Zimmerman, 1986, p. 1). In newer democracies, conventional forms of political participation are neither well established from a legal point of view nor deeply rooted in the political culture of these countries. Lithuania is not an exception to this rule. Protest and direct political actions has flourished in Lithuania especially in the early phases of democratization and the regime change. Two decades after the collapse of communism, direct-democratic instruments of law- and decision-making, as referendum, popular legislative initiative, local polls and so on, are legally recognized in the domestic political framework. However, the political impact of these instruments is highly questionable.