Nacionalinio intereso retorikos 2004-2006 m. Lietuvos spaudoje analizė: nacionalinė valstybė Europos integracijos kontekste

Abstract

The relationship between European integration and the nation state is one of the most commonly debatable themes in the field of European Union integration. At the core of these debates is the question how is nation states’ sovereignty affected by the states’ involvement in international organizations and how those nation-states conceptualize their role, place and voice in the context of European integration. The aim of this work was to analyze the tendencies and characteristic features of national interest rhetoric in Lithuanian press (period 2004-2006). The aim was being achieved by pointing out the models of national interest constructed in the press of the selected period, by highlighting the instruments and peculiar points used to express national interests and by analyzing attitudes, ideologies and reasonings set in the rhetoric of national interest. The assumption was made that the rhetoric of national interests displays the oppositional tendencies in the state governance by using it to criticize the chosen strategies and positions of the governing institutions. The analysis of the tendencies of the rhetoric of national interests reveal particular aspects of expressing the national interests in the selected sources: political aspect of national interests (the significance of state’s sovereignty and the power to make substantive decisions is emphasized), sociocultural aspect of national interests (the importance of upholding the sociocultural values and national identity are highlighted) and socioeconomic aspect of national interests (the necessity of ensuring the economic and social welfare to the people of the state is expressed). The models of the national interest rhetoric are constructed by applying eurosceptical attitudes and by criticizing the decisions made by the governing institutions.