| Abstract [eng] |
Citizen engagement in decision-making is considered one of the most significant elements of a modern democratic society, especially at the local self-government level, as active resident participation directly contributes to improving decision quality, increasing transparency, and strengthening trust in government institutions (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD], 2020; Council of Europe, 2021). The relevance of the topic is highlighted by the fact that local self-government, being closest to the daily needs and problems of citizens, creates the most favorable conditions for direct resident involvement; however, small municipalities often face specific challenges: passivity, limited participation, and insufficient trust in decision-making processes (Bučaitė-Vilkė, 2019). The novelty of the project is grounded in the fact that the context of small municipalities in Lithuanian scientific literature remains analyzed fragmentarily, and this case study of Rietavas municipality identifies specific small community barriers, such as limitations on opinion expression or pressure from informal connections, and evaluates the features of institutional responsiveness (Astrauskas, 2014; Civinskas ir kt., 2020). The fundamental scientific problem is how to ensure real, rather than declarative efficacy of citizen engagement by overcoming the institutional gap in the context of small municipalities. The object of the research is citizen engagement in decision-making in Rietavas municipality. The aim of the project is to analyze citizen engagement in decision-making in Rietavas municipality. To achieve the aim, the following tasks were formulated: to investigate theoretical assumptions and models of citizen engagement in decision-making in self-government, to analyze the legal regulation of citizen engagement in decision-making in local self-government at EU and national levels, and to empirically investigate the processes and experiences of citizen engagement in Rietavas municipality. The study applied qualitative research methods: scientific literature analysis, document analysis, semi-structured interviews with municipal administration representatives, and focus group discussions with community members (Kardelis, 2017; Gaižauskaitė & Valavičienė, 2016). The triangulation of research methods allowed for a comprehensive evaluation of the research object (Chand, 2025). The theoretical analysis proved that successful participation is a cyclic process, the quality of which is determined by the degree of power-sharing and institutional responsiveness (Arnstein, 1969; Fung, 2006; Sari, 2023). The analysis of legal regulation revealed a structural gap between the formal right to engage and the lack of a mandatory government responsiveness mechanism at EU and national levels (European Charter of Local Self-Government, 1999; Law on Local Self-Government of the Republic of Lithuania, 1994). The main results of the project showed a significant institutional gap in Rietavas municipality: while the administration believes it informs in a timely manner, community members indicate that they learn about decisions too late, when projects are already prepared. A key structural barrier was identified – organizing meetings during working hours, which eliminates the working part of the public. It was also established that the specifics of a small municipality lead to the restriction of opinion expression (the so-called silence pact) due to informal personal relationships, and the only form of real empowerment remains participatory budgeting (Bartocci ir kt., 2023; Mohebbi ir kt., 2020). The research results can be utilized to improve the Law on Local Self-Government of the Republic of Lithuania and to transform the format of public hearings in Rietavas municipality by implementing anonymous feedback channels and a proactive early information mechanism. The project structure consists of an introduction, three chapters, conclusions, recommendations, lists of literature and information sources, and annexes. The work consists of 81 pages, 25 tables, 3 figures, and uses 70 scientific literature sources and 26 information sources. |
