The problem of implementation of genuine democracy in Lithuania

Abstract

1. The old Western democracy countries have various long existing profound content based forms of implementation of democracy, the most famous of which are référendums in Switzerland, collective bargaining and work place democracy in Sweden, the activity of the ombudsmen’s institution in Sweden and other countries of the world, etc. 2. It is important for Lithuania to find its own way of genuine rather than formal democracy, with a genuine political democracy on the national level, democracy in work places both in the public and private sectors, reduction of social inequality and increase of empathy and benevolence towards the weaker ones. 3. The past twenty years in Lithuania marked the entrenchment of formal rather than genuine democracy, when the weaker members of the society were not adequately represented, and the opinion of the governed ones, as well as their interests, were often not taken into account. 4. The mass media in Lithuania was independent for a long time and was fiinctioning as an instrument for encouraging democracy, however, in the current geopolitical context, one can observe dangerous trends of dividing rather than consolidating the society. 5. To achieve genuine rather than formal democracy in Lithuania, it is essential to better observe the principle of separation of powers and give more attention to the solution of domestic problems. 6. One of the contemporary democracy development forms in the management of public services should be strengthening of the co-participation of the services clients and their empowerment.