What Will Lithuania Look Like in the Future? Essay

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Introduction

Lithuania is one of the European countries that have not overcome the aftermaths of the global financial crisis of 2008. However, such countries as Germany or France do not have a Soviet legacy and can focus on solving contemporary problems successfully as they have the necessary financial and social basis. As far as Lithuania is concerned, the country has to diminish some remnants of the Soviet legacy and, at the same time, work out new ways to cooperate with the European Union as well as other countries. The economy of the country is stagnating and there is a burning issue of brain drain.

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The situation in Lithuania has become a topic of heated debate. A variety of surveys have been carried out. Researchers and officials agree that the situation in the country is very serious. GibaitÄ—-KudĹľmienÄ— (2013) provides certain data concerning the economic situation in the country. According to this information, Lithuania is suffering a deep economic crisis (GibaitÄ—-KudĹľmienÄ— 2013). Researchers as well as officials are also quite pessimistic about the future of the country (Kalinsko 2012).

There is extensive research concerning different aspects of the country’s economy and political development. However, researchers are reluctant to provide their forecasts as to the future of the country. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the present situation in Lithuania to consider the prospects of the country. The hypothesis of the present research can be formulated as follows:

The future of Lithuania is unlikely to be prosperous as it can take at least two decades to overcome present economic constraints and develop proper strategies to collaborate with other members of the EU.

The major objectives of the present research paper are:

  1. To consider major milestones of the history of Lithuania in the second part of the twentieth century.
  2. To evaluate the economic situation in present-day Lithuania.
  3. To provide a possible scenario of the country’s development in the nearest future.

The present research can have a variety of implications as it contains a brief analysis of the present situation and includes prospects of the country. The amount of data on the matter is sufficient to develop specific strategies to address the issues the country is facing at present.

Methods

The qualitative method is used in the present research. Analysis of documents and literature available in the major method used to collect data. This research paper focuses on the impact Soviet rule had on the country. Present economic issues are linked to the past of Lithuania. The major variable of the present study is economic growth (or rather stagnation) in the country. Major trends existing in the country are analyzed and possible prospects of the country are revealed.

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Therefore, some trends of the development of the country are identified and the correlation between geopolitical situation and economic constraints in Lithuania are traced. This analysis helps to come up with possible scenarios of the country’s development.

Results

In 1991, Lithuania became an independent state. Though the Soviet Union tried to cease control over the country, Lithuania managed to win its independence (BBC 2012). Importantly, the soviet rule lasted for more than four decades. The Soviet Union occupied Lithuania in June 1945 (The Official Gateway of Lithuania 2013). The years under Soviet rule were characterized by inappropriate governing and pursuit of Lithuanian citizens. However, after the proclamation of independence, the country became a member of the European Union soon. The country is to enter the Eurozone within several years.

The present economic situation in the country is grave as there are alarming trends denoting stagnation. Researchers report a drop in the country’s turnover which is significant as it decreased by 6.5% only within a month (Gibaitė-Kudžmienė 2013). It is also estimated that about 16,000 enterprises will become bankrupt and, as a result, almost 180,000 employees will lose their jobs (Encyclopedia of the Nations 2013).

Economic constraints force people to leave the country and another issue to be solved is the so-called, brain drain. Thus, according to the Lithuanian statistics department, more than 33,500 Lithuanians emigrated last year (Sliziute, “The Glass” n.d.). More importantly, 40 percent of those who emigrated were people in their twenties or late twenties (Sliziute, “Denmark” n.d.). Notably, all spheres of the Lithuanian economy are in stagnation.

Economic constraints are accompanied by certain political instability. In the first place, the country cannot adjust to the rules set by the European Union. The Lithuanian government is trying to cope with economic issues in the country, but it fails to meet the expectations of the EU (Kalinsko 2012). This negatively affects the relations between Lithuania and other European countries.

Discussion

After World War II, Lithuania became a Soviet state. This change in the rule had rather deteriorating effects on the economic development of the country as the Soviet rule was notoriously known for its centralized control over Soviet nations (Snyder 2004). Lithuanians still remember the pursuit of innocent citizens and the deportation of Lithuanians to distant countries within the Soviet Union (“History” 2013). This policy has had a negative impact.

More so, it can be felt even in present-day Lithuania. A lot of people lost their roots (Sirutavicius 2008). The nation was torn apart. After the proclamation of independence, Lithuanians tried to accumulate Lithuanian legacy, but it was really difficult as one of the Soviet priorities was to create a single nation. Lithuanians had to understand who they really were, what kind of nation they had been before the Soviet occupation started.

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Apart from cultural issues, the Soviet Union brought lots of problems to the country’s economy. Inappropriate economic policies have a strong influence on contemporary Lithuania (Suziedelis 2011). Thus, centralized governance had detrimental effects on the economy of the country. Disproportionate industrialization of the region negatively affected the environment and artificially created an industrialized state. Admittedly, the money earned within the country was sent to Moscow. There was little or no investment in the national economy.

Apart from the financial drain, the Soviet rule also resulted in certain confusion as the country was unprepared for any economic growth even after the fall of the Soviet empire. It took quite a lot of time to reorganize the economy of Lithuania which was extremely centralized and was meant to be a part of a larger structure (Snyder 2004). This was a painful process, but the country managed to rebuild its economy in the 2000s.

Nonetheless, recent data suggest that rebuilding the economy have not resulted in meaningful economic growth. Lithuanians are now trying to adjust to the strategies used by other European countries. They are not always successful and the European Union expresses some concerns about the effectiveness of Lithuanian strategies. The membership of the country in the Eurozone (and sometimes in the EU) is also questioned (Kalinsko 2012). It is necessary to point out that young Lithuanians prefer leaving the country to trying to improve the economic situation in the country.

These data suggest that Lithuania is unlikely to achieve any meaningful economic growth in the nearest future. The existing trends can be regarded as certain evidence that the country is unable to cope with the major economic issues. In the first place, emigration will negatively affect the future of the country as there will be no high-profile professionals ready to come up with ideas and work out new strategies. Admittedly, the country needs new people who have the necessary expertise in the economy, and who are ready for changes. Such people are leaving the country as they cannot realize their professional ambitions.

Furthermore, European countries have not overcome the aftermaths of the economic crisis. Therefore, the EU will carefully allocate funds and will apply strict rules to its members, especially the countries of the Eurozone. The inability of Lithuania to cooperate with the countries of the EU suggests that the country may have quite tensed relations with the EU countries. Lack of support from the EU can negatively affect the economic situation in the country as Lithuania needs investments. Lithuanian economy requires financial support. However, if the country fails to meet the requirements imposed by the EU, Lithuania may lose the support of other European countries.

Therefore, the possible scenario of Lithuanian development can be characterized by a number of peculiarities. First, the country will continue struggling with economic constraints caused by the financial instability and, partially, aftermaths of the Soviet rule. Lithuania will try to adjust to strategies suggested by the EU. However, these attempts will be inconsistent as Lithuanians are not ready for the strict regulations imposed. Thus, the relation between the country and the EU will be tensed.

People will continue leaving the country as the living standards of other countries are better and they tend to improve. At the same time, a wave of bankruptcies is expected in the country. The unemployment rate will also increase. Admittedly, this will boost emigration rates. People will leave Lithuania to find ways to realize their professional ambitions. The development of the private sector will be slow as the Lithuanian government is no ready to invest in this sphere.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is possible to note that Lithuania is unlikely to prosper in the nearest future due to a number of reasons. The country’s government is unable to adjust to the new laws of the global economy. The Soviet legacy has an impact on the development of the country. Lithuania cannot work out proper relations with the EU which can have negative effects in the future. Finally, Lithuanians are also disappointed and reluctant to remain in the country and try to improve the situation.

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The emigration of young people will have a negative effect in the long run. However, there is still a hope that Lithuanians will acknowledge the necessity to unite and make an effort. The country can try to follow successful examples of other countries that managed to overcome similar constraints. There are chances that Lithuania will become a prosperous country in the future as the people of this country are hard-working and determined to succeed.

Reference List

BBC. 2012. . Web.

Encyclopedia of the Nations. 2013. . Web.

Gibaitė-Kudžmienė, Aldona. 2013. “The Baltic Course. Web.

Kalinsko, Juliaus. 2012. “15min.lt. Web.

Sirutavicius, Vladas. 2008. A Few Observations Regarding Woodrow Wilson’s Principle of National Self-Determination and Its Application. Lithuanian Historical Studies 13, no.1: 9-21.

Sliziute, Ieva. n.d. “” WordPress. Web.

Sliziute, Ieva. n.d. “” WordPress. Web.

Snyder, Timothy.2004. The Reconstruction of Nations: Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, 1569-1999. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Suziedelis, Saulius A. 2011. Historical Dictionary of Lithuania. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.

The Official Gateway of Lithuania. 2013. History. Web.

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IvyPanda. "What Will Lithuania Look Like in the Future?" March 22, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/what-will-lithuania-look-like-in-the-future/.

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