| Abstract [eng] |
The Master’s final project analyses the relationship between Kaunas City LSDP Department and interest groups. The relevance and novelty of this topic is based on the fact that the relationship between Kaunas City Social Democratic Party and interest groups is not a topic that has been addressed thoroughly. Even when these forms of relationship are inevitable and they are playing a crucial role in public policy decision-making. The problem of the project’s – how and to what extent do Kaunas City LSDP Department and interest groups relationship or not relationship? The project’s object is – political parties, interest groups and relationship between them. The subject of this project’s is the relationship between Kaunas City LSDP Department and interest groups. The project’s aim – to examine the relationship between Kaunas City LSDP Department and interest groups. The objectives of the project: to analyse theoretical aspects of the relationship between political parties and interest groups; to prepare the research methodology of the relationship between Kaunas City LSDP Department and interest groups; to typologise interest groups active in Kaunas; to create of Kaunas City LSDP Department and interest groups relationship model. The methods used are: analysis of scientific literature, analysis of documents, descriptive statistics, and semi-structured interview. The first chapter discusses and systemises information about the concept of relationship between political parties and interest groups, functions, types, etc. The key differences and similarities are identified. Also, the features of relationship between political parties and interest groups are analyses, and reviewed relations of the Social Democratic Party with interest groups. The second chapter presents the empirical research methodology. The third chapter provides the results of the empirical study. This chapter presents LSDP and its Kaunas City Department. It identifies social democratic provisions in relation to interest groups and typologises interest groups active in Kaunas. It was also revealed how and to what extent Kaunas City LSDP Department and interest groups do (not) relationship. The study showed that social democrats cannot imagine the process of decision-making, democratic development and welfare creation without the involvement of various interest groups. It turned out that in Kaunas, out of all interest groups, 320 met the criteria (having a website, and (or) insured employees). It was also established that Kaunas City LSDP Department and interest groups active in Kaunas (LAEA, ZUR, KCPDS and so on.) are connected. With the help of meetings, events, memorandums of agreements and other ways of relationship, these relations are created and maintained. |
