| Abstract [eng] |
The thesis seeks to answer the question how Lithuania’s security and defence policy is implemented in multinational format, hence the aim of the thesis is to discover how Lithuania’s security and defence policy makers understand their role in shaping Lithuania’s security interests in NATO. The research object is an analysis of processes’ leading up to 2016 and 2022 Warsaw and Madrid NATO summits. The decision is made to conduct case study as the decisions made in 2016 and 2022 NATO summits led to establishing NATO enhanced forward presence in the eastern part of the Alliance and agreement on said battlegroups to be scaled-up to brigade-size units when and where needed. The case is chosen as an exceptional due to it being high-importance decisions directly involving NATO eastern flank and all the decisions were made while dealing with tense geopolitical situation in the region. The research is made implementing seven key steps: first, the analysis of academic literature is conducted to find a research gap, second, theoretical basis is researched, third, study methodology is constructed, fourth, analysis on how Lithuania’s security and defence policy is shaped, fifth, the analysis of selected NATO documents relevant to this research topic is performed, sixth, semi-structured, in-depth, expert interviews with defence policy makers conducted as it is the primary data source for this research, and lastly, Lithuania’s case study analysis is conducted. The research framework is based on practice theory which states that international relations and State’s actions may be analysed on an individual level through policy makers. The theory emphasizes individual’s actions in social environment, their role in shaping State’s competences, their actions seeking for approval of its expertise and later using it as a leverage to seek for key decisions needed for its State. Research is approached through three key aspects stemming from the practice theory – establishing Lithuania’s competence, (dis)approval of Lithuania’s competence and Lithuania’s use of influence. The research unveils that Lithuania’s defence policy makers understood their role as an opportunity to maximise their position with all available skills and resources and establish their competence among other NATO allies’ to implement Lithuania’s position and interests in Alliance. Moreover, there are established practices among defence policy makers on how to approach the decision-making process. This case study identifies key Lithuania’s security and defence policy implementation aspects: it is necessary to have an opportunity window to frame particular issues and solve them; Lithuania has to keep consistent position and argumentation throughout the process; it is necessary to have support of other allies to establish State’s interests and implement decisions in NATO; decisions on implementation of measures among the Lithuania and NATO allies’ have to be made before the NATO summit. Lithuania’s case study has not been researched extensively in this field as analysis are more often made on Lithuania in international relations through the perspectives of small state, constructivism or realism. Choice to analyse individuals’ level and their role in implementing Lithuania’s international agenda gives a new perspective on how international relations and defence policy is conducted in day-to-day actions. In addition to this, research conclusions highlight two possible directions for future research: dynamic of bilateral relations in decision-making process and Lithuania’s role in regional cooperation formats. |
