Features of Modern Lithuanian Society's Legal Identity Development: from Closed to Holed Society

In: Security Dimensions, Volume 26, Issue 26, p. 62-99

Abstract

During the last three decades, few essential transformations of Lithuanian society took
place – from a closed (according to the terminology of H. Bergman and K. Popper)
soviet society during a short period of open society functioning it evolved into a holed
(according to P. Aleksandravičius) society. The Republic of Lithuania becoming
the rule of law and creation of liberal democracy was a favourable context of the transformations
mentioned. These transformations were ensured not only by establishment
of free market economy but also by corresponding legislation and implementation
of legal norms.
The article analyses inter-directional methodological possibilities to reveal a legal identity
of Lithuanian society. Creation of such possibilities is based on three ideas of Western
civilisation:
1. The idea of compliance with the rules of common or social (now – public) behaviour.
2. The idea of legitimate powers of sovereign to create common (social or public) behaviour
rules and to organize and control their implementation. It evolved into the idea
of the rule of law.
3. The idea of natural rights and freedom. It evolved into the protection of human rights
and freedom.
Based on these ideas and analysis of peculiarities of the process of the Republic of Lithuania
becoming the rule of law, there are justified five stages of Lithuanian society's legal
identity development.