Civic Identity of Ethnic Minorities in Lithuania and its Manifestation in the Lithuanian Armed Forces

Due to the ongoing processes of economic, cultural and social integration, most countries are finding it increasingly difficult to preserve their uniqueness. Consequences of globalisation had prompted many countries to make an effort in conserving their national and foster their civic identities. More and more attention is being given to issues regarding the preservation of national identity and ethnicity, and the nurturing of national self-awareness. All of these issues are especially relevant in small and multicultural states, which are finding it exceedingly difficult to find appropriate models and methods of fostering their statehood, while also taking into account the needs of their ethnic minorities, cultivating a civic society, and protecting the singularity of cultural and ethnic minorities. This is especially relevant to Lithuania, as the rate of emigration remains high, with the place of émigrés being slowly replaced by representatives of other ethnic groups and cultures. Regardless of the various measures applied during attempts at the liberalisation of policies regarding ethnic minorities, non-integrated representatives of such minority groups can become a factor of not only national, but also of international instability