Lithuania

Below you will find terminated research projects that concern Lithuania.

Duration: 1 June 2013 - 31 July 2013

Project leader: Ausra Padskocimaite | Project page

The aim of the project was to study whether democratic values such as respect for human rights and tolerance promoted by the European Union during the pre-accession period took root in Lithuania. In order to join the European Union candidate countries had to meet the so-called Copenhagen criteria (respect for rule of law and human rights, democratic state of governance, functioning market economy) that led to numerous legislative and administrative changes in the field of human rights. However, it seemed that the formal institutional framework had changed much faster than people’s attitudes and beliefs. The first part of the project was based on interviews with representatives from different human rights NGOs in Lithuania. During the second part, a representative population survey was carried out to uncover people’s ideas about human rights and tolerance of unpopular groups. The results of the survey could provide interesting insights about meaningful differences between different age groups (younger generation is expected to be more tolerant), people with different educational background, religion etc. 

Duration: 2011 - 2016

Project leader: Ingvar Svanberg | Project page

Book project: The book aims to present the forgotten Muslim communities in the Baltic Rim (Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Russia, Belarus). Various Tatar groups have settled in the region since 18^th century, and Tatar minorities have developed as ethno-religious minorities in cities like Helsinki, Tallinn, and Riga already by the end of the 19^th century. In Poland and Lithuania small groups of Tatars established themselves as minorities already two centuries ago. The chapters have been presented at workshops in Vilnius (2011) and during a Tatar network meeting within the framework of the EASR conference at Sodertorn University (Aug 23-26 2012) by those attending the conference. The book will be published in the autumn of 2014.

Project leader: Ingvar Svanberg | Project page

Duration: 2010 – 2016

The overall purpose of this research project is to focus, in an interdisciplinary perspective, on the history and current status of crucian carp, Carassius carassius (L.), in the Baltic Sea region, and to evaluate the species´ future potential in aquaculture on a local basis. It is very likely that the escalating problems in world fisheries and aquaculture based on predatory fish will result in increasing interest in omnivorous and herbivore species. This will give species such as crucian carp and tench (Tinca tinca L.) a renaissance as a food source in the northern hemisphere. The project is composed of three closely interlinked parts. One part is based on the history of the crucian carp in human use and the second part on its possible future use in aquaculture. The third part of the project will focus on the origin and routes of spreading of crucian carp in Sweden and the Baltic region. Conversely, natural populations of crucian carp threatened due to secondary invasion of lakes and coastal regions can be recognized.