<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Andrius Volanas was a sixteenth-century Lithuanian Calvinist leader. He was known not only for his political activities, but also gained notoriety as the author of <italic>De libertate politica sive civili</italic> (1572), in which he studies the main social and political problems of Lithuania. In this book we can find political and social ideas that were modern not only for Lithuania of that time, but also for Europe, where different protestant theologians were trying to define the new social and political frames of social and political life, and in so doing were trying to find the keys to political modernization. They sought inspiration not only among their contemporaries, but also in ancient Hellenistic philosophy. The Roman philosopher Cicero was one of their most popular sources of inspiration. Andrius Volanas and others had used Cicero's ideas to look for new vectors in political and social life.</abstract>

Ciceronian Ideas in Andrius Volanas's Social and Political Theory

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This article examines which theory of international relations is best suited for the analysis of energy resources in international relations. The article suggests that realism paradigm theories might provide a useful starting point from a descriptive method in the studies of energy resources in foreign policy. The idealism paradigm downplays the strategic importance of energy resources, and suggests simplified view that statesmen are economically rational actors. Realism suggests that energy resources are power elements included in states' foreign policy when states seek to expand influence abroad. Detailed examination of classical realism, neorealism, defensive realism, offensive realism and neoclassical realism suggests that neoclassical realism allows extend the analysis of energy resources' role in states foreign policy. Interactions and variables in neoclassical realism suggest the broadest explanations and predictions.</abstract>

Energy Resources in Foreign Policy: A Theoretical Approach

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This article examines the model (models) of civil service fundamental to Lithuania's public policy on civil service after 2004, i.e., after joining the EU. Here the model is considered as a certain description or concept of state civil service or, more accurately, a certain systematic vision or representation of civil service. The article discusses the approaches used for classifying civil service systems and shows the dichotomous understanding of position or career-based civil service systems as groundless. It goes on to describe the premises and opportunities for "career civil service" in Lithuania. Path dependence in the process of civil service reforms in Lithuania and the not entirely unambiguous influence of the EU are described concisely. The discussion on the latest plans for civil service reforms ascertains that managerial priorities predominate therein. Meanwhile these plans ignore the increasingly obvious alienation between civil service and the public-at-large in Lithuania and the necessity for an orientation towards the principles and priorities of participatory governance alongside the managerial priorities.</abstract>

Model of Civil Service in Lithuania's Public Policy

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Academic discussions on US democracy assistance reveal an underlying tension between commitment to democratic process and interest in desired political outcomes. This paper examines the case of Yeltsin's Russia in order to identify deficiencies of US democracy protection policy which is vulnerable to the impact of US short- and medium-term security interests. Both diplomatic and programmatic levels of US democracy protection policy are considered. As a result, an analytical model of ‘security-burdened’ democracy protection policy is developed. This paper argues that the model of ‘security-burdened’ democracy protection policy could be helpful in analyzing other cases of US democracy assistance efforts in the post-Soviet space, such as the cases of Saakashvili's Georgia and Yushchenko's Ukraine.</abstract>

Weighing the Burden of Security: US Democracy Assistance in the Post-Soviet Space

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The vague character of the interests in a post-totalitarian society, which become clear when seen alongside the clear and concrete interests of the elites, seems to be an important and typical feature of Russia's politics. Consequently, society has been almost completely marginalized as a political subject, and its role has been taken over by the corporate interests groups of "big business". The political regime of present-day Russia has been, to some degree, founded on models known from developed democracies, including the institutions of the president, council of ministers, independent courts, and the freedom of the press or political parties. However, considerable differences occurred in the application of those mechanisms in Russia. For instance, the parties in the Russian political system did not succeed in becoming channels of articulation of social needs. This situation was caused by the fact that the majority of political parties and other political and social organizations have been dominated by various interest groups and have maintained an exclusive character. Those interest groups, represented by political parties, pursued their goal by means of private and public pressure towards state decision-making institutions. Thus, both the state's and the society's priorities have been pushed aside.</abstract>

Simulated Democracy and the Free Market in Russia

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Poland has made significant efforts in the development of the evaluation function as a tool for better decision-making and good governance. Starting from the pre-accession program PHARE as legal obligation, current evaluation is not only used as a tool for accountability and knowledge production but evaluation results are used in the national decision making on. Poland has also made significant attempts to implement a European Union Cohesion policy, the outcome of which should be to decentralize the evaluation function too. However, the system is not working properly yet, due to different obstacles such as lack of human resources, quality of evaluation studies and relevant monitoring data. Poland is moving to the most advanced stage in terms of evaluation content, quality between European Union member states and maybe good example for the present and future members how to make evaluation really work for decision making and absorption of structural funds.</abstract>

Evaluation of the European Union Structural Funds' Support in Poland: Scope and Significance

<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This article examines the issue of state bankruptcy. Since there is no uniform way to deal with the issue, attention is given to different practices and guidelines of courts' reasoning(s) on the matter. In order to answer the question of legality, as well as to confirm or disconfirm the hypothesis that sovereign state can declare bankruptcy, descriptive, analytical and comparative methods are used. The article provides a historical overview of state bankruptcies. The article also explores the existing judicial regulations, addresses the absence of international law containing a uniform or a codified bankruptcy law for states, and outlines the main principles applicable to the dispute resolution between an insolvent sovereign state and its creditors. In addition, the article analyzes the circumstances which allow states to suspend or repudiate the fulfilment of international obligations.</abstract>

Can a Sovereign State Declare Bankruptcy?

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 16 (2024): Issue 2 (February 2024)

Volume 16 (2023): Issue 1 (September 2023)

Volume 15 (2022): Issue 2 (December 2022)

Volume 15 (2022): Issue 1 (October 2022)

Volume 14 (2021): Issue 2 (December 2021)

Volume 14 (2021): Issue 1 (June 2021)

Volume 13 (2020): Issue 2 (December 2020)

Volume 13 (2020): Issue 1 (June 2020)

Volume 12 (2019): Issue 2 (December 2019)

Volume 12 (2019): Issue 1 (June 2019)

Volume 11 (2018): Issue 2 (December 2018)

Volume 11 (2018): Issue 1 (June 2018)

Volume 10 (2017): Issue 2 (December 2017)

Volume 10 (2017): Issue 1 (June 2017)

Volume 9 (2016): Issue 2 (December 2016)

Volume 9 (2016): Issue 1 (June 2016)

Volume 8 (2015): Issue 2 (December 2015)

Volume 8 (2015): Issue 1 (June 2015)

Volume 7 (2014): Issue 2 (December 2014)

Volume 7 (2014): Issue 1 (June 2014)

Volume 6 (2013): Issue 2 (December 2013)

Volume 6 (2013): Issue 1 (June 2013)

Volume 5 (2012): Issue 2 (December 2012)

Volume 5 (2012): Issue 1 (June 2012)

Volume 4 (2011): Issue 2 (December 2011)

Volume 4 (2011): Issue 1 (June 2011)

Volume 3 (2010): Issue 2 (December 2010) The Problem of the State of Exception

Volume 3 (2010): Issue 1 (June 2010)

Volume 2 (2009): Issue 2 (December 2009)

Volume 2 (2009): Issue 1 (June 2009)

Volume 1 (2008): Issue 1 (December 2008)

Baltic Journal of Law & Politics

Baltic Journal of Law &amp; Politics (BJLP) is a scholarly journal, published bi-annually in electronic form as a joint publication of the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy and the Faculty of Law of Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania). BJLP provides a platform for the publication of scientific research in the fields of law and politics, with a particular emphasis on interdisciplinary research that cuts across these traditional categories. Topics may include, but are not limited to the Baltic Region; research into issues of comparative or general theoretical significance is also encouraged. BJLP is peer-reviewed and published in English.  Why subscribe and read  The journal’s contributions present quality research on topics of critical concern both within and without the academy. The journal provides a platform for the publication of innovative research in the fields of law and politics, with an acute interest in the cross-pollinations of disciplines, comparative approaches to regional issues, and active dialogue on pressing contemporary issues of theoretical and practical import.  Why submit  The journal is committed to the quality of every article from the initial stage of inquiry to the date of publication. The journal provides fast, fair and constructive peer review by specialists in their areas from all over the world. Authors receive editorial assistance in adjusting their manuscripts to the standards of the journal as needed. Submissions from all corners of the fields of law and politics are encouraged, especially research that locates itself at their intersections.  Peer review  BJLP is a refereed journal. Submissions are subject to academic peer-review. Every submitted manuscript receives at least two professional reviews, at least one of which is a double-blind review. The peer-review process typically takes 1-2 months after the paper is accepted to peer-review process after the initial review in the Senior Editorial Board. There are no charges for the review process. For more information please visit Instructions For Authors. Rejection Rate   70%   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 