| Abstract [eng] |
This thesis examines the perception of charismatic political leaders in Lithuania, aiming to reveal how these leaders are evaluated within different historical and cultural contexts. The purpose of the study is to explore how charismatic political leaders are perceived in Lithuania and to assess whether this perception is universal and coherent or historically conditioned. A qualitative research methodology was employed, consisting of an analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted with two groups of informants: one group born and having reached voting age during the Soviet period, and another group born and having reached voting age in independent Lithuania. The analysis of the findings showed that a considerable number of characteristics of charismatic political leaders are evaluated universally, regardless of the informants’ historical experience. Nevertheless, a significant distinction emerged within the data, identifying two positively evaluated portraits of charismatic political leadership: an expressive and a calm style. The intergroup analysis revealed that informants who grew up during the Soviet period maintain a greater sense of distance and respect toward charismatic political leaders, whereas informants who came of age in independent Lithuania more often perceive such leaders as familiar, approachable, and equal. This suggests a process of societal liberalization and an ongoing shift in values in the relationship between political leaders and their followers. A distinctive element in the perception of charismatic political leaders was their ability to create a sense of security, which informants considered particularly important in the current geopolitical context. This finding indicates that perceptions of charismatic political leadership in Lithuania are shaped not only by historical factors but also by situational conditions. |
