Post-Soviet Civil Society in Transition: Leftist Social Movements in Lithuania

Laura Dauksaite

doi:10.20897/jcasc/11121

Abstract

The existing discourse on leftist movements in post-Soviet countries characterizes them as weak and isolated. This research analyzes the case of Lithuania, which has had parliamentary left parties since the democratic transition. Despite this, a new leftist movement recently began to emerge. Therefore, I answer the question, how can we explain the emergence of new leftist political groups in the context of a continued prominence and authority of the “old” left in the Lithuanian government? I analyze the case on several levels. The macro-level analysis is based on the European Value Study (EVS) 3rd pre-release of 2017 data, while for meso/micro-level analysis I conducted 8 interviews with the members of the new leftist movement. The research reveals that a precarious society was formed by those who lost out in the democratic transition. The opportunity for the leftist movement to arise was due to a sense of disappointment stimulated by the long-lasting inefficiency of political parties and their inability to deal with precarious conditions in the country. The new leftist movement was formed recently because of the frustrations of the first post-Soviet generation, rising from the discrepancy between dominating class-based capitalist politics and social issues, including identity politics, which stimulated the search for alternative explanations of the socio-economic structure. Moreover, because of the nature of this generation, the new leftist movement is dual -- an anti-austerity-care movement, fighting not only for the improvement of the precarious conditions they are facing but also taking care of the most vulnerable ones and thus creating a more inclusive and equal democracy.

Highlights

The emergence of leftist social movements in the post-Soviet space is considered to be a complicated phenomenon
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the political focus in the Baltic States turned anti-socialist and after the restoration of independence stayed central-right; this did not occur in all three states entirely
These feelings encouraged some to turn radical and form anti-austerity movements, demanding greater equality and inclusion in society. These goals are components of a more representative democracy and such movements aimed to eliminate precariousness by improving their democratic regimes. This theory can be used to explain the emergence of the new leftist social movements in Eastern European context as well, because the disappointment and precarious conditions persisted after the transition period (Žilinskienė and Ilic, 2018; Milanovic, 1995)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The emergence of leftist social movements in the post-Soviet space is considered to be a complicated phenomenon. These goals are components of a more representative democracy and such movements aimed to eliminate precariousness by improving their democratic regimes (della Porta, 2015) This theory can be used to explain the emergence of the new leftist social movements in Eastern European context as well, because the disappointment and precarious conditions persisted after the transition period (Žilinskienė and Ilic, 2018; Milanovic, 1995). I will be using the three previously discussed theoretical concepts to analyze the subject of my research: declining trust in the existing leftist parties; the shift from the reproduction of class-based consciousness and politics towards social issues and identity politics; and the precariousness of those on the losing end of democratic transition. The interplay between dominating capitalist class-based politics and social issues is presented which leads to a discussion of the creation of the new leftist movement in Lithuania. In the last section the nature of the new left movement is discussed, revealing its duality: it is an antiausterity movement and a care movement

METHODOLOGY

Data from The Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Lithuania

Findings

CONCLUSIONS