Особенности политической культуры Литвы: элита и массы

Abstract

The antithesis between the elite and the masses is characteristic of the contemporary Lithuanian political culture. This opposition is obviously reflected in the exploration of the political orientation of country people who feature unconventional political behaviour, first of all, political passivity which is clear in voter abstention. Country people express their protest by voting for unsystematic, populist parties and their leaders. Masses do not trust the government, the Seimas, political parties. Their negative attitude towards the political elite forms a skeptical view on politics in general, on democracy, patriotism, the European Onion. Such political orientation of country people is mostly determined by their poor tconomic conditions, poverty, low level of education.