Strengthening democracy and civic participation

Lithuanian democracy is currently facing various challenges that jeopardize its stability and further development.

• The fragmentation and polarization of society is increasing, especially in the social sphere. Divergent political ideologies, values, and perspectives on current issues deepen divisions and hamper constructive dialogue.
• Shrinking civic space: experts agree that recent events have significantly curtailed opportunities for free expression, open debate, and progressive change.
• The spread of disinformation and propaganda is leading to a decline in public trust in institutions and a surge in radicalization.
• Corruption remains a pressing problem, threatening the foundations of democracy.
• Lack of civic participation. Although voter turnout remains relatively high in Lithuania, other forms of civic participation, such as signing petitions or participating in protests, are less common. This indicates a lack of public involvement in the decision-making process.

Projects implemented by the Open Lithuania Foundation focus on analyzing the challenges facing democracy, exploring diversity within historical contexts, and assessing the state of human rights. Working together with international partners, we advocate for a plurality of ideas, perspectives, and opinions. We encourage people to look at Lithuania’s experiences in a broader regional or historical context.

In order to strengthen democracy in Lithuania, it is necessary to address the challenges it faces and foster dialogue and understanding among diverse viewpoints. It is equally important to understand that these challenges are not unique to Lithuania – many democracies grapple with similar issues. Therefore, by implementing our projects, we aim to promote mutual respect, tolerance, critical thinking, and a better and deeper understanding of the challenges facing democracy and ways to overcome them.

Some of our projects delve into research on historical memory. Between 1989 and 1991, Lithuania went through a major transformation. It was not only the restoration of the Independent State of Lithuania, but also the transition from a totalitarian regime to democracy, from a planned economy to a market economy, from a coercive regime to the consolidation of human rights and freedoms. Despite this seismic shift, narratives reflecting diverse experiences remain largely unexplored. How did people feel, what did they experience, what did they fear, and what did they hope for at that time? Our projects aim to shed light on a diversity of voices, opinions, and experiences so that we could talk about this period and its implications for future generations in a diverse way.

Civic participation and engagement are essential elements of democracy, promoting the active involvement of members of society in the life of their community and country. The public can participate in elections, plebiscites and referendums to express their views on important political and social issues. In order for people to get involved, both the various organizations need to provide opportunities and the people themselves need to know about, understand and take advantage of them. We support and implement civic participation and engagement projects both in Lithuania and in other countries in the region, such as Ukraine.