| Abstract [eng] |
Lithuanian society is characterized by low civic participation and environmental awareness and does not see climate change as a serious threat. This specificity creates a rather negative field of action for the emergence and functioning of climate activism movements. However, following the global trend, two new climate activism movements, “Fridays For Future Lithuania” and „Extinction Rebellion Lithuania“ emerged in Lithuania between 2019 and 2021 and are still visible in the public sphere, organizing protests along with advocating for the inclusion of environmental issues in the political agenda. Drawing from new social movements theory, which proposes that collective identity is one of the most important factors in maintaining the continuity of social movements, the main research question of this thesis is how and what kinds of collective identities of the climate activism movements “Fridays For Future Lithuania“ and “Extinction Rebellion Lithuania“ were constructed. Accordingly, the following objectives are set: 1) To review previous research on climate and environmental activism, theories of new social movements, and to construct a theoretical framework for this study. 2) Following the theoretical framework, to develop a methodology and questionnaire suitable for the research, and to conduct semi-structured interviews with former and current climate activists of “Fridays For Future Lithuania“ and “Extinction Rebellion Lithuania“. 3) By analyzing the interviews, answer the main research questions: how and what kinds of collective identities of “Fridays For Future Lithuania“ and “Extinction Rebellion Lithuania“ climate activism movements were formed? Lithuanian climate activism movements are explored through semi-structured in-depth interviews with both current and former members of the movements. A total of 12 qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted, with most interviewees belonging to the 20-35 age category. In this thesis, the analysis of the construction of collective identities by climate activists is explored by using Alberto Melucci’s framework of collective identity as a process. Therefore, the collective identity of social movements is examined as a dynamic and ever-changing process that is shaped through the goals set by the movements, the means chosen to achieve those goals, the field in which the movement operates, the success of the internal network of relationships it establishes and forms, and the emotions it experiences. The study is expanded by chapters on the local or global aspects of climate activism movements in Lithuania and the concept of transnational diffusion. Finally, the analysis concludes with an overview of the continuity of climate activist identity after leaving the movements. In order to remain in an unfavorable field of action, “Fridays For Future Lithuania” and “Extinction Rebellion Lithuania” climate activism movements have gone through a transformation of their goals and means. During this process, they have constructed a collective identity of educators and mediators between politicians and the public. Both movements have shifted from being apolitical and awareness-raising to being expertise and education-based and trying to get involved in political processes. Faced with crises such as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the movements have been able to adapt their means of action and find ways to make the climate crisis relevant to Lithuanian society. The changes in objectives and the means have also changed the politician’s attitudes towards the movements, from an emphasis on youth and ignorance to equal consultations with some politicians constructing a collective identity as intermediaries between the public, the politicians, and climate science. |
