Construction of Citizenship in a Global Context: The Change of NGOs’ Role in Lithuania

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 Construction of Citizenship in a Global Context: The Change of NGOs’ Role in Lithuania

Journal Title: KultŁ«ra ir visuomenė. SocialiniŁ³ tyrimŁ³ Ł¾urnalas - Year 2010, Vol 1, Issue 2

Abstract

The structure of society, including the sphere of politics, has been changing and shifting during the last several decades. New forms of civic participation have emerged as an alternative to the rule of state government. Civic society becomes a very important component in society. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze shifting social realities and its impact on power relations. This study examines practices of the Lithuanian youth NGOs in a global context. Ten members from different youth NGO’s were interviewed for the study. The interviews were conducted with those members of NGOs who had participated in international networks and had had international connections. The sample of respondents was made using the snowball strategy.The analysis demonstrates that the globalization process depends on different social, economical and political patterns of a single country. Globalization changes the inner quality of the social and political life itself and loosens up the relation of a society to politics. This process, in its turn, provides citizens with more opportunities to participate in the governing of a state.The research results also show that the main function of NGOs is political and/or civil socialization. Informal education is one of the methods that can motivate and encourage the youth to participate in civic activities. Members of the youth NGOs can become agents in social change and can have a possibility to influence the change not only at the local, regional or national but also at the international level. 

Authors and Affiliations

Živilė Kėrytė

Keywords

EP ID EP129488
DOI -
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