“Lituanistika”, International Research Database
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New perspective on the burial mounds of Eastern Lithuania
No full textStraipsnyje daugiausia dėmesio skiriama dviem kertiniams Rytų Lietuvos pilkapynų išplanavimo elementams – pilkapių grandinėms ir tarp jų susidariusiems tarpams-takams. Įvairaus pločio, ilgio ir orientacijos takai tarp Tautų kraustymosi (V–VIII a.) ir Vikingų laikotarpio (IX–XII a.) pilkapių užfiksuoti 18 vietovių visame šios archeologinės kultūros areale. Jie ypač būdingi didiesiems pilkapynams, kuriuose išliko 80 ir daugiau pilkapių. Tai leidžia manyti, kad šie pilkapynai V–XII a. buvo naudojami ne tik kaip laidojimo kompleksai, bet ir kaip šventvietės – apeigų ir sueigų vietos. Tokios regioninės šventvietės – tai dar vienas svarbus visų baltų genčių šventviečių ir Rytų Lietuvos pilkapių kultūros istorijos dėmuo. Rytų Lietuvos pilkapynų analizė, kuria paremtas šis tyrimas, atlikta naudojant viešai prieinamą skaitmeninį erdvinį reljefo modelį DTM-LT-2020. Jis suteikia išskirtinę galimybę tiksliai matyti pilkapių išsidėstymą grupėse, ir tai keičia Rytų Lietuvos pilkapių kultūros paveikslą tiek empiriniu, tiek teoriniu požiūriu. Reikšminiai žodžiai: Rytų Lietuvos pilkapių kultūra, laidosena, baltų religijos šventvietės, skaitmeninis reljefo modelis (LiDAR).This study is based on an analysis of burial mound groups in Eastern Lithuania using the publicly available DTM-LT-2020 digital terrain model (created using laser-scanned surface data, SEŽP_0.5LT, of the territory of the Republic of Lithuania). The study focused on burial mound groups containing at least 25–30 mounds, with a total of 107 groups identified, of which 70 met the quality criteria for analysis. Most of the research centred on burial mounds from the Migration Period–Viking Age and the Viking Age, containing 30 to 79 mounds. Other groups had significantly smaller sample sizes, and those from the Roman Period and Roman–Migration Period were excluded due to not meeting the defined criteria. The digital terrain model clearly reveals key spatial elements of these burial mound sites, including mound chains, the gaps between them, and large mounds (20 meters or more in diameter), which significantly contribute to the monumentality of these sites. A particular focus of the study was the paths and spaces between the mounds, varying in width, length, and orientation. Pathways were identified in 18 burial mound sites, with more locations still requiring verification across the cultural area. These pathways were present in 8 out of 20 major burial mound groups, which have preserved 80 or more mounds. The distribution, size, and lack of geographical or visual links between these large burial mound groups and hillforts suggest that they were not created by a single local community, but rather by a larger network of communities. The spatial structure of these large burial mound groups indicates that they were not only burial complexes but also ritual sites, serving as gathering places for ceremonies and other sacred practices. These regional sanctuaries, established, expanded, and used between the 5th and 12th centuries, add a crucial dimension to the history of Baltic sacred sites. They also significantly enrich the understanding of Eastern Lithua nia’s burial mound culture, which later became the foundation for the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Securitization of memory and the practice of public history in the Baltic States.
No full textRussia’s military aggression against Ukraine in 2014 generated considerable anxiety in the Baltic States about the vulnerability of society to information warfare exploiting the contending historical narratives of the region. The authorities became acutely concerned of the possibility of a ‘hybrid attack’, appealing to the hearts and minds of Russian minorities in border regions to support an incursion or destabilizing action. This chapter seeks to demonstrate that while historical memory of the Second World War became a referent of security discourse and policy, the securitization of the past has not yet led to illiberal regulation or efforts to control historical discourse. A comparative and regional analysis of policy developments in the Baltic States suggests that policymakers have thus far managed to steer a course between a ‘laissez-faire’ liberalism and mnemonic memocracy
The Relationship of psychological well-being with adaptive and maladaptive functioning among older adults in Lithuania
No full textBackground: The aging of societies highlights the importance of understanding the lives of the elderly. Researchers are interested in iden-tifying factors of psychological well-being associated with age as it is crucial to find out what contributes to a fulfilling life of older people. However, the relationship of psychological well-being with adaptive and maladaptive functioning remains ambiguous. This study aimed to assess this relationship among older adults. Participants and procedure: The study involved 332 individuals aged 60 to 97, with an average age of 71.93 years, of whom 36.4% were male. A nationally representative sample of older adults was obtained using multistage stratified sampling. The short supplemen-tary scale of the Lithuanian Psychological Well-Being Scale and Older Adult Self Report (OASR/60+) were used. Results: The hierarchical regression analysis revealed that, even after controlling for other factors of psychological well-being, cer-tain specific problems – namely anxiety/depression, thought problems, and irritability/disinhibition – were significant pre-dictors of psychological well-being. Conclusions: Our study underscores the importance of targeting specific maladaptive behaviors, such as anxiety, thought problems, and irritability when developing interventions for the elderly. Addressing these issues may enhance their psychological well-being and contribute to successful aging. Keywords: adaptive and maladaptive functioning; personal strengths; emotional-behavioral problems; elderly people
Assessment of socio-economic and environmental impacts of energy efficiency improvements in multi-apartment buildings: case study of Lithuania
No full textThis research aims to assess the socio-economic and environmental impacts of the Lithuanian long-term renovation strategy, focusing on improvements in the energy performance of renovated multi-apartment buildings in the country. The methodology used in the study is centred on the CleanProd general equilibrium model, which is based on publicly available data from the FIGARO database and Eurostat’s non-financial transaction statistics. The four renovation financing scenarios analysed are represented in the model by changes in the demand for energy resources and construction and other transactions related to the renovation programme. To reflect the dynamic nature of the renovation programme, counterfactual equilibria are sought for each year of the renovation programme. The results revealed that renovation of multi-apartment buildings brings net benefits, including long-term increases in gross domestic products (GDPs) and employment, as well as a decrease in economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and is aligned with the binding European Union’s energy efficiency target to reduce energy consumption at least by 11.7% in 2030 (in comparison to 2020). The Increase in Taxes on Products scenario is modelled as the most favourable scenario. It assures annual GDP growth by 0.37%, employment growth by 2170 jobs a year, including 606 jobs for young people, and an annual decrease in GHG emissions by 929–1043 ktCO2eq. It is found that the most considerable benefits are received during the renovation of medium-size buildings when construction demand increases by EUR 600,000–800,000 per year and natural gas and district heating demand are reduced by EUR 59,000–187,000 per year. Other scenarios demonstrating different building renovation and energy efficiency support practices, including Costless, Reallocation of Governmental Expenditure, and Governmental Loan, show relevant but slightly lower benefits. Keywords: general equilibrium model; sustainability assessment; energy efficiency; multi-apartment buildings; case study
I am choosing a book published by the Vilnius University Faculty of Law
No full textRecenzuojamą leidinį sudaro septyniolika skirtingų autorių straipsnių, skirtų Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucinio Teismo veiklos trisdešimtmečiui. Šiame straipsnyje analizuojama Konstitucinio Teismo jurisprudencija autorius dominančiais teisėtyros klausimais. Leidinio straipsnių autoriai gilinasi į skirtingas teisės sritis, todėl Konstitucinio Teismo jurisprudencija vertinama įvairiais aspektais. Straipsniuose vyrauja istorinis tyrimo metodas, parodant Konstitucinio Teismo pozicijos formavimosi tam tikru klausimu ištakas ir raidą tiriamuoju trisdešimties metų laikotarpiu. Leidinyje analizuojama ir vertinama Konstitucinio Teismo doktrina įvairiomis didelio teisininkų ir likusios visuomenės dalies susidomėjimo sulaukusiomis problemomis: Tautos laisvės rengti referendumą ribos, (paslėpti) Konstitucinio Teismo bandymai keisti savo jurisprudenciją, teisės principų taikymas, individualaus konstitucinio skundo tinkamumas, Konstitucinio Teismo ir kitų teismų argumentų sąveika, legislatyvinės omisijos problemos etc. Reikšminiai žodžiai: Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucija, Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucinis Teismas, individualus konstitucinis skundas, Konstitucinio Teismo jurisprudencija, Konstitucinio Teismo doktrina.The publication consists of seventeen articles dedicated to the thirtieth anniversary of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania. The articles by different authors examine the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court on various legal issues. The authors scrutinize different areas of law, providing a multifaceted view of the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court. The articles predominantly apply the historical approach, showing the origins and development of the Constitutional Court’s position on a particular issue over the thirty-year period under review. The collection analyzes and evaluates the doctrine of the Constitutional Court on various issues that have attracted the attention of leading lawyers and society, such as the limits of the people’s freedom to hold a referendum; (hidden) attempts by the Constitutional Court to change its jurisprudence; the application of legal principles; the justification of individual constitutional complaints; the interaction between the arguments of the Constitutional Court and other courts; issues of legislative omissions, and etc. Keywords. Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania, individual constitutional complaint, jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court, doctrine of the Constitutional Court
Shaping consumer behaviour in a digital landscape: the impact of technology readiness on the purchase of sustainable IoT products.
No full textPurpose – This study examines the influence of technology readiness on purchase behaviour toward sustainable Internet of Things (IoT) products. Specifically, it explores how technology readiness dimensions, including optimism, innovativeness, discomfort, and insecurity, affect perceived value, attitudes, and purchase intention while shaping consumer behaviour in a digital landscape. Design/methodology/approach – Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the research assesses responses from a structured survey aimed at consumers of sustainable IoT products. The model analyzes the direct and indirect relationships between the technology readiness constructs and consumer attitudes and behaviours. Findings – The findings reveal that optimism and innovativeness positively impact perceived value and purchase intention, while discomfort and insecurity act as barriers. Moreover, a perceived value significantly mediates the relationship between technology readiness and purchase intention, reinforcing its critical role in influencing purchase behaviour. Research limitations/implications – This study hasseveral limitations, including a focus on a relatively young demographic (ages 18–25), which may not fully represent older populations with potentially different levels of technology readiness, and its geographical specificity, which limits the broader applicability of the results to regions with varying technological infrastructures and cultural attitudes towards sustainability. Practical implications – Businesses and policy makers can leverage these insightsto design targeted marketing strategies that enhance consumer optimism and innovativeness while addressing discomfort and insecurity to foster the adoption of sustainable technologies. Originality/value – This study expands the understanding of consumer readiness for sustainable technologies and underscores the importance of perceived value in promoting sustainable consumption behaviours in the digital age. Keywords: technology readiness, decision-making process, circular economy, sustainable products
Technological innovations for sustainable business success: enhancing processes and performance.
No full textPurpose – Technological innovation has the potential to consolidate and create more conscious investment strategies, opening new avenues for both local and foreign investors. Despite many efforts within firms towards business process efficiency, research on comprehensive strategies embedding digital tools is still in the early stages. This study examines how environment-friendly and sustainable investors across the European Union (EU) can leverage technology and digital innovation to enhance sustainable business processes and financial performance. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology is based on robust regression and dynamic GMM models, cluster analysis using the Ward method and network analysis through Gaussian graphical models. The data are extracted from the European Innovation Scoreboard and cover 27 EU countries from 2016 to 2023. Findings – The empirical findings provide a viable path for investors to actively plan a strategic layout to improve the adaptation of technological innovation and achieve a broader perspective of sustainable business practices, with positive spillovers on financial performance and environmental sustainability. Practical implications – Lessons are learnt from the multiple and diverse connections between the analysed dimensions. Firms and policymakers should embed levers in their strategies/policies that enhance the use of information technology and stimulate competitiveness in science, with a keen focus on human resources. Originality/value – The study stands out through the advanced modelling techniques applied to offer detailed insights into the relationship between technological innovation, sustainable firm investments and performance for specific groups of innovators in the EU. Keywords: technological innovation, sustainable investments, business processes, environmental impact, strategy
Linking crises: connections between climate change and COVID-19 during American, Canadian, Dutch, and Lithuanian national elections (2020-2021)
No full textCrisis responses are created in reference to the meanings of other crises. We develop the notion of ‘linking crises’ to capture this phenomenon and apply it to two contemporary global crises: climate change and COVID-19. Concretely, we study four crisis linkage dimensions in American, Canadian, Dutch, and Lithuanian party manifestos for national elections from the pandemic heydays (2020–2021): (1) how often links were drawn; (2) the issues they were related to; (3) the argumentative strategies for making connections; and (4) and the political level on which this occurred. We find many cross-national similarities. For instance, in every country links with economic and environmental issues were very present, an argumentative trope of ‘building back better’ was employed by various political parties, and the majority of the connections were made at supra-national levels. These findings bring up the question of when cross-national parity in crisis responses does (not) occur. Keywords: crisis, climate change, Covid, meaning-making, discourse, comparative politics, national elections
Youth perception of public spaces in the City
No full textFor any urban development, the opinion of the final stakeholders is essential. However, the uncensored youth perception regarding the urban environment is rarely included in the decision-making process. Here, we present the youth’s perception of public spaces in the city. The empirical research was conducted in Kaunas, which is a typical tertiary city. That is why such results are comparable with findings from other middle-sized cities around the world. The photovoice research method was applied to gather data on youth perception of public spaces. The dataset consisted of 793 unique responses from young people. The qualitative analysis was conducted by using MaxQDA 24 software. Our findings suggest that young people prefer to spend time with friends in man-made urban environments rather than in natural or semi-natural green spaces. Many of their favourite places are considered to be well suited to young people’s needs. Suggestions for improving their favourite places mostly revolve around built infrastructure, yet many of them emphasise the importance of sustainable urban development. Keywords: city; public space; perception; urban development; youth
Futuristic scenarios of the general education school: Lithuanian trajectories and implications.
No full textThe paper features the most probable visions of development of the general education school obtained from the research project Futuristic Scenarios of the Lithuanian General Education School. The study used the Delphi method to develop futuristic scenarios and extrapolate the most probable trajectories of school development. Sixty-one experts in education including academics, school administrators, teachers and students completed an online Delphi survey designed by the project partners. Based on the findings, four futuristic scenarios are proposed: (1) The School of Eco Care; (2) The School of Exclusion; (3) The School for the Market; and (4) The School of Individual Meanings. These findings capture the (un)realistic and (un)preferable tendencies in our rapidly changing world, the implications and possible benefits of the scenarios. Keywords futuristic scenarios, school, Delphi research method, Lithuani