| Abstract [eng] |
The aim of this work is to indicate reasons that determine the choice of the immigration policy in Lithuania. This is a new approach to this public policy area, because most of the research has analyzed only the nature of migration policy in the country so far. In this Master's thesis the existing nature of immigration policy toward labor immigrants from non-EU countries is chosen as an dependent variable and the reasons that could explain it are sought. The main goal of the work is to indicate the reasons which determine the discrepancy between the policy, proposed by migration analysts and economists, and the actual immigration policy in Lithuania today. To achieve the goal, the following objectives were set: 1) to define how the concept of immigration policy is understood in this work; 2) based on previous research of migration policy, to construct a theoretical model on the basis of which countries like Lithuania should choose a rational immigration policy that corresponds to the country's economic, social and demographic interests; 3) to introduce theoretical approaches to political science that could explain the reasons which determine the discrepancy between the migration policy theories and the actual immigration policy in Lithuania; 4) to formulate the hypotheses based on the theories of political science presented; 5) to confirm or deny the hypotheses based on the information collected during the interviews and the data available in public space. The main question of this study asks why there is a clear discrepancy between the policy, proposed by migration analysts and economists, and the actual immigration policy in Lithuania today. As immigration is seen as a part of public policy, public policy analysis approaches were chosen as tools that could help to answer the main question of the study. In addition, considering the fact that many public policy areas in Lithuania are securitized, the interpretation of international relations based on threat analysis was included. Based on the presented theories, three hypotheses were raised: 1) The nature of immigration policy in Lithuania is determined by the unwillingness of politicians to make unpopular decisions that could threaten their further political career (re- election); 2) The nature of immigration policy in Lithuania is determined by the most effective interest group; 3) The nature of immigration policy in Lithuania is determined by real and fictional security threats. The results of the study confirmed two of the three hypotheses. |
