Collective learning in a post-Soviet context – the challenges for industrial policy and strategy in the new EU member states (the case of Lithuania)

Abstract

The paper analyses the strategic industrial policy alternatives available for the new EU member states (based on the case of Lithuania) both during their pre-accession process and after the date of EU membership. The paper scrutinizes the specific policy context that surrounded the institutional choices made by the new member states during their neo-liberal transformation from the Soviet centrally-planned industrial policies towards the functioning market economy. The Eastern European countries (Lithuania specifically) are viewed in the global (US, South East Asian, Latin American) and regional / European (both on the EU and member-state level) contexts. The industrial policies inside the EU are thoroughly discussed in relationship with the new member states. The article underlines the contradictory role of the European Commission that, given its institutional asymmetry with regard to the pre-accession countries, contributed both to imposing the neo-liberal transformation agenda and, at times, an interventionist stance going outside the existing acquis. On the other hand, the paper acknowledges the constructive role played by the European institutions in promoting the strategic planning dimension in the economic governance of the new member states, although claims that this role was weaker than on the macroeconomic and legislative (adoption of the acquis) fronts. The progress of all former candidate countries in the latter aspects has been more marked, while institutions rendering specific competitive advantages remained largely underdeveloped. [...].