The Lithuanian social policy model

Abstract

Social policy models may be categorized not only according to their economic or philosophical contents but also from the political science aspect. Absolute models do not really exists; nevertheless, countries are grouped into different welfare state types according to certain features. The formation of specific social policy models is mainly determined by the ideological and practical orientation of individual political parties. In West European countries, the formation of the social policy types took place throughout the twentieth century under the influence of various structural and value factors. Conversely, Eastern European countries (including Lithuania) started developing a new social security model as late as in the last decade of the century, in adverse conditions of transition from totalitarian socialism to market economy and democracy. The Lithuanian social policy model and the sociopolitical environment that has determined it is an interesting object of study. Thus the purpose of the present analysis is to define the type of social security model created in Lithuania as well as its components and supporters. According to many macro-social indicators Lithuania occupies an intermediate position among the countries of Eastern Europe. The definition of the Mediterranean model (Makinen) provided an important impetus to the elucidation of the question as to the type of the Lithuanian social security model and the extent of the political parties' contribution to its formation. The above definition is of great relevance to the evaluation of social security theory and practice of not only Southern Europe but Latin America and Eastern Europe (including Lithuania) as well. It is namely in these countries that clienteleist (lobbyist, acquaintance and family) ties are most important in attempting to adapt the legislation to narrow clan needs or to circumvent or amend the laws. In these countries social inequality is great and one may find much poverty there. 1 At the turn of the twenty-first century the Lithuanian state is characterized by such a Mediterranean-type structure in which the ideas