Arvydas Guogis

Naujoji viešoji vadyba – kaip postmodernios vartotojiškos kultūros produktas?

The aim of the article is to conduct theoretical analysis trying to show that consumerism, as the feature of post-modern society, interrelates with new public management concept and makes an impact to its theoretical principles. In the first part, the authors reveal the differences between consumption and consumerism and define the main characteristics of consumerism. A. Maslow needs hierarchy pyramid’s logic serves for that purpose as the instrument. Consumerism aspect is indicated as the natural, organic activity, which is directed to fulfill the lower individ’s needs. Consumerism as not natural, postmodern meta-life form not only causes inflation in the lower factors of human needs, but also presses forward to the sphere where consumerism was earlier absent. In postmodern society, the higher human social and self-actualization needs also are becoming the instruments of consumerism. When earlier these needs were satisfied by establishing real social ties and they were dependent on other individs, now the human relations sphere is transforming. These processes are reduced to social plays of trade and the cult of materialism becomes the essential feature. There are also revealed other aspects, such as the use of rational quality criteria and absolutizing of quantitative indicators as well as the deformation of qualitative indicators in the context of consumerism. It is necessary to indicate the understanding of consumerism as the process where individ is using the commodities and services and the consumerism where the consumer becomes the consuming substance. In the second part, the authors reveal the connection between consumerism and new public management concept by expressing the status of the state as the trade center status and absolutizing the quantitative indicators, orientation towards the client and reduction of state employees to human resources understanding. Human resources in such a model have to submit to the imperatives of consumerism. Many causes could have an impact to the management and consumerism relation, for instance, the geographical factors, economic development of capitalism and neo-liberal streams. These arising problems pose a necessity in state governance to orientate towards New Governance, as the alternative how to reject the destructive and consumeristic accents of new public management for the sake of society and the state development. Social dimension, which was abandoned by new public management 20-30 years ago while retreating from the welfare state, has to be rediscovered in the new circumstances.

The Characteristic Features of Social Dialogue in the Baltics

This article analyzes the characteristic features of social dialogue in the Baltic states. The methodology of the current research is based on an intensive analysis of literature and statistical data. The aim of the present research is to address some gaps that were identified during the literature review. Firstly, why does the social dialogue develop so slowly in the Baltic states? Secondly, what was the role of social partners in that process? We find that the main achievement in social dialogue have been reached by social partners on the national level and, despite the painful austerity measures, the Baltic states showed the benchmark of advanced crisis management.

NIHILISM AS A CULTURAL PREREQUISIT AND A NECESSITY FOR NEW GOVERNANCE

Straipsnyje analizuojamas nihilizmas kaip postmodernios epochos parametras. Aptariamos jo susidarymo priežastys bei raiska įvairiuose visuomenės lygmenyse, tiek privataus, tiek viesojo sektoriaus organizacijų veikloje. Straipsnyje ypatingai akcentuojama vertybinės dimensijos svarba bei jos įtaka valstybės valdymui, organizacinei kultūrai, reformoms ir viesajam administravimui. Autoriai atskleidžia, jog nihilizmas traktuotinas kaip reiksmingas kultūrinio pasipriesinimo veiksnys besiformuojanciam naujojo viesojo valdymo diskursui. Atsižvelgiant į nihilizmo įsigalėjimą, pasiūloma įvertinti savitrasncendencijos kaip postmodernios vertybės galimybes.

Socialinės atskirties mažinimo problema Europos parlamento rekomendacijų kontekste

Europos parlamentas yra viena iš svarbiausių ES institucijų, kurios yra atsakingos už socialinės dimensijos tikslų formulavimą ir įgyvendinimą. Vienu iš aktualiausių uždavinių Europos Parlamentas laiko socialinės apsaugos priemonių priderinimą prie realaus minimalaus gyvenimo lygio, taip pat socialinės nelygybės ir atskirties mažinimą šalyse narėse. Socialinės dimensijos stiprinimas bei socialinės atskirties mažinimas Europoje gali sulėtėti ir dėl objektyvių ekonominių sunkumų, kurie šalis nares yra užgulę po 2008–2009 metų ekonominės krizės, kai vis dar nėra reikšmingesnio ekonominės padėties atsigavimo, o naujas ekonominis kritimas vis dar yra įmanomas. Straipsnyje analizuojamas krizės poveikis socialinės atskirties mažinimui Europos Parlamento rekomendacijų kontekste. Straipsnio pabaigoje autorius siūlo socialinės reintegracijos laipsnio nustatymą efektyvesniam socialinės apsaugos administravimui.European Parliament is one of the most significant EU institutions which are responsible for the tasks of social dimension‘s aims declaration and implementation. One of the most actual tasks, solved by European Parliament, is social security measures fitness to real minimal subsistence level and social inequality and exclusion diminishing in the member states. Strengthening of social dimension and lessening of social exclusion can also suffer from economic difficulties, which appeared in the member states after 2008–2009 economic crisis – when there is still no breaking with the crisis past and the new downfall is still possible. In the article the impact of crisis for social exclusion diminishing is analyzed in the context of European Parliament recommendations. Social security measures had only limited impact for stabilization in the member states, however, the author argues and the European Parliament documents prove, that social security measures are not the burden, but the reserve for development in the member states. In this case, European Parliament together with International Labour Organization, according the author, are the most socially exposed organizations in the world. In the end of the article there is suggested the significant social reintegration indicator for the measurement of social security‘s efficiency and effectiveness.

On the part of western discoveries in research of welfare state models

The problems of welfare models raise continuous concerns for both most of the residents of Western countries and their academic representatives, as well as a certain part of the Eastern European layers, especially the ones that are oriented towards a greater social justice and social protection. However, the works and the opinions on Western welfare models of sociologists, economists and political scientists are still insufficiently known in Lithuania. In this area, we are still lacking both historical and perspective analytical insights. This article will help to get better acquainted with the remarks of Esping-Andersen, Castles, Palier and some other Western researchers on the Western welfare models which were crystallized at the turn of the 21st century.