Lithuania in the Europe and the world: civilizations and regions

Straipsnyje analizuojamas Lietuvos identitetas Europoje, pateikiant įžvalgas civilizacijų ir istorinės perspektyvos kontekste. Pateikiama įžvalgų apie civilizacijų įtaką šalies identitetui ir regionų skirstymo problemas, atskleisti šalies identiteto formavimosi aspektai, analizuojant praeities ir dabarties politinius įvykius. Mokslinės literatūros analizė ir sintezė atskleidė, kad Lietuvai reikėtų imti pavyzdį iš Vidurio Europos šalių. Dėl bendros istorinės patirties, kultūros, tikslų ir mentaliteto derėtų labiau save sieti su Centrinės Europos valstybėmis – Čekija, Slovakija, Vengrija ir Lenkija.Current political situation in Europe was a wakeup call for a lot of Europeans. Migrant crisis provoked them to ask new questions about their own identity as both members of Europe and as individuals with a distinct an ethnic origin. Globalization made Western World question not only their identities, but also different theories about cultural evolution. Right now for most members of European Union, and furthermore of Western World, the idea of multiculturalism seems unlikely to be possible, and might cost the west and Europe its future. Focus on clashes of different civilizations as a starting point in understanding international relations lets us get a bigger picture of a very detailed, intervened and unclear system, while its “objective truth” is doubtful, different theories about it can help in better understanding and after that – better political positioning. There is a clear distinction between Islam and West civilizations that are more than only religious differences – it is also about mentality, psychology and ethics. So far most successful civilization known as the Western world is not quite singular – its culture and mentalities is different in different parts of the world. While whole Europe has a lot in common its borders are redrawn after every major political, economic or cultural change, and even after that you still have to point out that there are still many differences between different regions in Europe. The western “core” has been doing cultural exports for centuries now, and based on how much of that influence different Europe regions got, and how integral they are to the face of Europe we can say how its regions should be divided. Just like Europe’s, region maps are drawn and redrawn. Two countries who have long, and substansful relationships with the rest of Europe are Turkey and Russia. Both of them are regarded as peripheries of main Europe. Russia’s distinct difference from her western neighboring gave birth to a new term for a “Central Europe”. Consisting of Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland Central European countries share same mentalities, history, goals and dreams. Lithuania’s struggles throughout the ages mirror ones of Central Europe very well, and while it is usually not regarded as a part of it has more than a fair share of differences from Russia and a lot of similarities to Central European countries, even a long lasting relationship with Poland. There is a great opportunity in siding with these countries with same goals and mentalities, because it would provide Lithuania a better heard voice among countries that are far more integral to the Western world, European Union or Europe itself