| Abstract [eng] |
Title: ,,Civility and civil society as a contested idea: interpretation of the discursive practices of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania“. In this work is studied the discourse of the Seimas. The method is based on the paradigm of the history of concepts. In the thesis is interpreted the concepts of civil society and citizenship. There is no clear answer to the question of what civil society is. All this is based on the premise that civil society is one of the key concepts in politics that is constantly being challenged. This is not only a theoretical but also a practical issue in the life of the state. Some people civil society associate with the protection of human rights, others with the protection of the state, and with NGOs. Therefore, the question arises, what concept is being developed in Lithuania? The intrigue of this work lies in the attempt to understand how the pluralism of the idea of civil society manifests itself in the Seimas debates. The problematic aspect is that the parliament is a place that seeks to institutionalize complex problems and thus unify them, and civil society is fundamentally a multifaceted phenomenon. The study revealed that civil society is being politicized. In order for civil society to achieve its goals, it must rely on political procedures and thus approach politics. The descending of the line between what is civic and what is political creates a paradoxical situation: civil society itself is strengthening. In the state, civil society ensures the efficient and legitimate operation sometimes takes over some of its functions. The analysis of the Seimas discourse revealed that the state crises - pandemic, refugees, war in Ukraine, strengthened the attitude towards NGO and communities. In summary, civil society as a concept is inherently positive, and it identifies various forms of citizen action. The work raises a theoretical question, can the state build a civil society? This is because civil society is fundamentally separate from the state and is based on volunteering. |
