“TWENTY YEARS OF EU MEMBERSHIP: LESSONS LEARNED, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES”

28th Annual Conference of Central European Political Science Association (CEPSA)

“TWENTY YEARS OF EU MEMBERSHIP: LESSONS LEARNED, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES”

Thursday 3rd – Friday 4th of October 2024, Kaunas

Organized by

Central European Political Science Association in cooperation with Vytautas Magnus University, Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy and Lithuanian Political Science Association

PROGRAMME

2024-09-19

Conference venue:

Vytautas Magnus University Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy,

V. Putvinskio str. 23, LT-44243 Kaunas, Lithuania

Organizing Committee:

Ingrida Unikaitė-Jakuntavičienė, Chair of the committee, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
Miro Haček, President of CEPSA, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Petr Just, General Secretary of CEPSA, Metropolitan University Prague, Czech Republic
Sima Rakutienė, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
Aistė Žemaitytė, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
Rimgailė Kasparaitė, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
Robertas Eismontas, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
Liutauras Gudžinskas, acting President of the Lithuanian Political Science Association, Vilnius University, Lithuania

Programme

1ST DAY

THURSDAY, 3RD OF OCTOBER, 2024

8.30.-9.30 Registration of participants (VMU, Lobby of the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy building, Putvinskio st. 23, 1st floor)

9.30- 10.45 Opening ceremony (VMU, Putvinskio st. 23, 1^st floor, Room 106) :

-Welcoming speeches: Vytautas Magnus University Vice-Rector for Communication Vilma Bijeikienė; VMU Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy Šarūnas Liekis; CEPSA President Miro Haček

–Keynote speech: “No Country for Eurosceptic Men? Transformation and Europeanisation of Lithuania” Prof. Mindaugas Jurkynas (VMU, Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy)

10:45-11:15 Coffee break (Room 414)

The following panel sessions will be held in the building of the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy of VUM (V.Putvinskio str. 23). Registration desk will be available during the session after the lunch at the entrance to the Faculty building.

10:45-11:15 Coffee break (Room 414)
11:15-12:45 Session I	Panel 1	Room 106
11:15-12:45 Session I	Panel 2	Room 002
11:15-12:45 Session I	Panel 3	Room 312
11:15-12:45 Session I	Panel 4	Room 313
11:15-12:45 Session I	Panel 5	Room 311
11:15-12:45 Session I	Panel 6	Room 220
12.45-14.30	Lunch Break
14.30 -16.00 Session II	Panel 7	Room 106
14.30 -16.00 Session II	Panel 8	Room 220
14.30 -16.00 Session II	Panel 9	Room 002
14.30 -16.00 Session II	Panel 10	Room 311
14.30 -16.00 Session II	Panel 11	Room 312
16.00-16.15	Coffee Break (room 414)
16.15-17.45 Session III	Panel 12	Room 106
16.15-17.45 Session III	Panel 13	Room 312
16.15-17.45 Session III	Panel 14	Room 311
16.15-17.45 Session III	Panel 15	Room 002
16.15-17.45 Session III	Panel 16	Room 220
17.45-17.50	Break
17.50-19.20 Session IV	Panel 17	Room 106
17.50-19.20 Session IV	Panel 18	Room 313
17.50-19.20 Session IV	Panel 19	Room 311
17.50-19.20 Session IV	Panel 20	Room 312
17.50-19.20 Session IV	Panel 21	Room 002
18.00-19.00	CEPSA Council meeting	Room 220
19.30 Reception for conference participants (Room 414 and terrace)

2ND DAY

FRIDAY, 4TH OF OCTOBER, 2024

The following panel sessions will be held in the building of the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy of VUM (V.Putvinskio str. 23). Registration desk will be available from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the entrance to the Faculty building.

9.15-10.45 Session V	Panel 22	Room 311
9.15-10.45 Session V	Panel 23	Room 313
9:15-10:45 Session V	Panel 24	Room 002
9:15-10:45 Session V	Panel 25	Room 312
9:15-10:45 Session V	Panel 26	Room 310
10.45-11.15	Coffee Break
11.15-12.45 Session VI	Panel 27	Room 311
11.15-12.45 Session VI	Panel 28	Room 310
11.15-12.45 Session VI	Panel 29	Room 312

Closing of the conference

Pannels

THURSDAY

3rd of October, 2024

Panel 1. Room: 106	Experiences and perspectives of CEE countries in the EU Panel chair: Assoc. prof. Sima Rakutienė, Vytautas Magnus University
Experiences and perspectives of the Visegrad Group in the European Union		Anna Czyż	University of Silesia in Katowice
Twenty Years After EU Accession: Assessing Slovenian Experience		Miro Haček	University of Ljubljana
Examining EU Leverage and Linkage in Hampering De-democratization in Central Europe		Łukasz Zamęcki	University of Warsaw
Twenty years of Slovakia in the European Union – challenges and expectations		Peter Csanyi	University of Economics in Bratislava
The “second dimension” in Central Europe: a demand-side approach		Jan Kovář	Institute of International Relations Prague

Panel 2. Room:002	Security and Defence Policy Processes in Transatlantic Security Community and Their Implications to The Baltic States 1 Panel chair: prof. Giedrius Česnakas, General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
The U.S. Position Regarding NATO Transformation: A Return To The Original Mission With A Stronger European Role In The Alliance”		Gerda Jakštaitė-Confortola	General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
Deteriorating security environment and NATO collective defence adaptation		Ieva Karpavičiūtė	General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
Analyzing the European Defence Fund’s financing distribution across EU countries: what drives national participation in defence-industrial integration projects?		Ringailė Kuokštytė	General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
The strongest land army in Europe? The development of Polish Armed Forces in the context of Russian war on Ukraine and the EU plans of creating European Army		Łukasz Stach	Jagiellonian University
The Big Game in Southeast Europe: Groupism and Anarchy in Russo-Western Relations		Davor Boban	University of Zagreb

Panel 3. Room: 312	Experiences and Perspectives of EU Enlargement and Integration processes Panel chair: Laura Gheorghiu, Karl Franzens University Graz
Perspectives for Further Enlargement of the EU in the Light of Current V4 Positions		Boglárka Koller	Ludovika University of Public Service, Budapest
“Is the V4 the growth engine of Europe? 20 years of convergence within the		Gál, Zoltán	University of Pécs
“Welcome Aboard?” Assessing and Explaining Absenteeism of Member States in the Union’s Cultural Project Funding Sphere		Birgit Mitter and Armin Mühlböck	University of Salzburg
Ride-or-die until EU accession? Examining the support for EU integration among Albanians in North Macedonia		Ferenc Németh	Corvinus University of Budapest
Shifting identities: EU integration in Moldova and Bosnia-Herzegovina		Petra Bezděková Damir Kasum	Palacký University Olomouc

Panel 4. Room: 313	Democracy backsliding in Central and Eastern European EU member states Panel chair: Assoc. prof. Adam Szymański, University of Warsaw
From posterchild to pariah of the EU Illiberal unpolitics in Hungary		Robet Sata	Central European University
Democratic backsliding and non-participation: Cross-European analysis		Algis Krupavičius, Ligita Šarkutė	Mykolas Romeris University, Vytautas Magnus University
European Values in the 21st Century: Longitudinal Analysis of the State of (Liberal) Democracy in EU Member States		Dario Čepo	University of Zagreb
Hungarian and Polish parliaments as tools of democratic backsliding in the hands of Fidesz and Prawo i Sprawiedliwość		Sebastian Kubas	University of Silesia in Katowice
What Shapes Affective Political Polarisation in the Czech Republic?		Pat Lyons	Czech Academy of Sciences

Panel 5. Room: 311	Foreign policy perspectives in Central Europe Panel chair/-s: Prof. Jaroslav Ušiak, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia; Dr. Péter Rada, Budapest Metropolitan University, Hungary
Dynamics of Visegrad Group Cooperation in Foreign and Security Policy Post-Ukraine Conflict		Jaroslav Ušiak	Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica
SurRealism of the Liberal World Order and the Place of the EU in its Future		Péter Rada	Budapest Metropolitan University
State Strategy Planning and Regional Cooperation in Security Policy		Laura Nyilas	National University of Public Service
25 years of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary in NATO		Ewelina Kancik-Kołtun	Maria Curie-Skłodowska University
Foreign and Defence Policy Issues in the 2023 Czech and the 2024 Slovak Presidential Elections		Petr Just	Metropolitan University Prague
The Influence of Realist and Constructivist Perceptions of National Interest on Foreign Policy Priorities: A Case Study of Serbia		Nikola Jović, Milan Krstić, Marko Dašić	University of Belgrade

Panel 6. Room: 220	European Parliament Elections in CEE countries Panel chair: Assoc. prof. Ingrida Unikaitė-Jakuntavičienė, Vytautas Magnus University
The EP Elections 2024 – Campaign Strategies of Austrian Parties and the Role of Social Media		Karin Liebhart	University of Vienna and University of Trnava
New political parties in the EP elections 2004-2024: the Czech experience		Daniel Sarovec	Jan Evangelista Purkyne University
2024 EP elections in Lithuania: campaigning of Lithuanian Parties in between European and National Issues		Ingrida Unikaitė-Jakuntavičienė	Vytautas Magnus University
The Prospects of Christian democratic parties in CEE Countries in light of the 2024 European Parliament Elections		Ádám Darabos	Research Institute for Religion and Society, Eötvös József Research Centre, University of Public Service, Danube Institute
Examining The Influence of Migration On Decision-Making Processes Within The EU in The Context Of The 2024 European Parliament Elections: Insights From The Polish Perspective”.		Eugeniusz Kuznicow-Wyszyński	University of Warsaw
Participatory European Parliament manifesto writing: just a tool or a value choice?		Richard Bavlsík, Ákos Nagy, Daniel Oross	Corvinus University of Budapest, HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences

Lunch break

Panel 7. Room: 106	IPSA RC13 – Democratization in comparative perspective Belarusians amidst regional and national turbulences in post-2020 times Panel chair: prof. Irmina Matonytė, Military Academy of Lithuania Discussant: Siarhei Liubimau, European Humanities University
Post-2020 Belarus: mnemonic conflict in history interpretation amid the liquidation of the remnants of independent civil society		Hanna Vasilevich	International Centre for Ethnic and Linguistic Diversity Studies, Prague
Decolonial Slavic (un)coupling? EU politicians’ views on the Belarusian and the Russian oppositions-in-exile and their reception		Pierson-Lyzhina, Ekaterina; Buyantueva, Radzhana	Repi of Université libre de Bruxelles; Cevipol of Université libre de Bruxelles
Exiled Belarusian civil society in the context of war in Ukraine		Tatsiana Chulitskaya	Vilnius University
Everyday life under authoritarianism: A case study of Belarus after the 2020-21 National Awakening		Katsiaryna Lozka	Ghent Institute for International and European Studies (GIES),
The Litvinism Debate as a Barrier for Belarus-Lithuania Cooperation towards Democracy		Vadim Vileita	Independent analyst, Vilnius

Panel 8. Room: 220	Security of European nations in the era of hybrid threats: concepts, strategies and practices Panel chair: Assoc. prof. Robert Mikac, University of Zagreb
Hybrid threats and challenges to the Western Balkans states		Robert Mikac	University of Zagreb
Hybrid threats to the European Union: Instrumentalisation of the anti-EU agenda in disinformation campaigns		Miroslav Mareš	Masaryk University
The Interconnection of Internal and External Security Concepts: Lithuania’s Societal Resilience against Hybrid Threats		Ieva Gajauskaitė	Military academy of Lithuania
Civic education as a countermeasure to hybrid threats: the case of Latvia		Ieva Bērziņa	Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, National Defence Academy of Latvia
Hybrid threats and security challenges to Estonia and Estonian countermeasures		Vladimir Sazonov	University of Tartu, Estonian Military Academy

Panel 9. Room: 002	War, refugee movements and their political implications after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine 1 Panel chair/-s: Dr. Bartosz Czepil, University of Opole, Poland; Prof. Jarosław Jańczak, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland, European University Viadrina, Germany
In the aftermath of the war in Ukraine: Migration crisis and its geopolitical implications for Poland		Tomasz Brańka, Łukasz Donaj	Adam Mickiewicz University;
“Not a bullet for Ukraine“: The Janus-Faced Populism After the 2023 General Elections in Slovakia		Jaroslav Mihálik	Univerzita sv. Cyrila a Metoda v Trnave
Czech immigration and integration policy before and after the war in Ukraine		Lukas Vomlela	Silesian University of Opava
Good migrant or bad migrant – Ukrainian refugees and the changing narrative in Hungary		Andrea Schmidt	University of Pecs
A humanitarian superpower? Situation of the Ukrainian refugees and its evolution in Poland after the Russian invasion of February 24, 2022		Jarosław Jańczak, Bartosz Czepil	Adam Mickiewicz University, European University Viadrina University of Opole
Putin’s aggression against Ukraine: Finland, Sweden and their NATO membership ratification in Hungary		Heino Nyyssönen	University of Turku

Panel 10. Room: 311	The Russian war in Ukraine Panel chair: Assoc. prof. Victor Denisenko, General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
The Russian-Ukrainian war and the role of the European Union		Jerzy J. Wiatr	European School of Law & Administration (Warsaw-Brussels)
Russian Invasion into Ukraine and Lithuanian Public Agenda in 2022-2023: Killer, Victim and Persistent Issues		Vaidas Morkevičius, Giedrius Žvaliauskas, Vytautas Valentinavičius	Kaunas University of Technology
“Democratizing Defense in Ukraine: Analyzing the Interface of New Institutionalism and Societal Engagement in Democratic Control of Armed Forces”		Taras Ivanec	General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
The Depiction of the War in Ukraine in Central European Media		Orsolya Ring, Ákos Holányi, Jakub Stauber, Krzysztof Rybiński, Jaroslav Kopčan	HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences, Charles University, Vistual University Kempelen Institute of Intelligent Technologies
Managing Escalation or Prolonging the War? Explaining the Dynamics of German Military Aid to Ukraine		Justinas Juozaitis	General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
Hedging or shelter-seeking: explaining the divergence of Czech and Hungarian foreign policy towards Russia’s war in Ukraine		András Hettyey	Andrássy University, HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences, Budapest

Panel 11. Room: 312	Local governments in CEE: Concept of European community-led development Panel chair: Assoc. prof. Simona Kukovič, School of Advanced Social Studies in Nova Gorica and University of Ljubljana
Community-led development: Evidence from Slovenian local communities		Simona Kukovič	School of Advanced Social Studies in Nova Gorica and University of Ljubljana
A Critical Evaluation of Local Development Indicators: Case of Slovenia		Tine Šteger	University of Ljubljana
Involvement of local communities into municipal decision-making in Hungary: deliberative tools in the time of centralisation		István Hoffman, Borbála Dombrovszky	Eötvös Loránd University, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin
How Satisfied Councillors are with their Remuneration: The case of Lithuania		Aistė Lazauskienė	Vytautas Magnus University
Measuring variation in subnational electoral democracy: evidence from Czech and Slovak cities		Pavel Maškarinec	Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem
Dancing on the edge of the abyss: Czech regions, populism and social risks		Petr Bláha	Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem

Coffee break

Panel 12. Room: 106	Populism in CEE countries Panel chair: PhD Petr Just, Metropolitan University Prague
Initiating constitutional amendments and populism in the law-making process: the case of Poland after Russian aggression against Ukraine		Łukasz Jakubiak	Jagiellonian University in Krakow
The European Union: leitmotif of the discourse of Central European populists (selected examples)		Rafał Dudała	Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce
Evolution of populist strategies in Polish politics in the 21st century		Natalia Stręk	Jagiellonian University
“We are not pro-Russian, but…”: Communication of War and Populist Rhetoric of Robert Fico and Andrej Babiš Compared		Ondřej Filipec, Petra Měšťánková	Palacký University in Olomouc
Populist Voters Voting for Populist Politicians? The Influence of Value Congruence on Voters‘ Choice		Gabrielė Burbulytė-Tsiskarishvili, Edita Stumbraitė-Vilkišienė, Alvyda Obrikienė	Klaipeda university

Panel 13. Room: 312	Security and Defence Policy Processes in Transatlantic Security Community and Their Implications to The Baltic States 2 Panel chair: Dr. Gerda Jakštaitė-Confortola, General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
German Defence Policy Two Years After the ‘Zeitenwende’: Achievements, Issues, Prospects		Justinas Juozaitis	General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
From Global Britain to NATO’s Northern flank and the position of the Baltic states in the UK defence policy		Giedrius Česnakas	General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
Sweden’s role in NATO: between the Baltic States and the High North		Danguolė Bardauskaitė	General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
Multipolar visions in a bipolar-bound world?		Zoltán Vörös	University of Pécs
The Baltics Go South: The Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian Participations in the European Union Maritime Security Operations, 2008-2024		Giovanni Parente	Maynooth University,

Panel 14 Room: 311	Political Parties and Leaders in CEE countries Panel chair: Prof. Mindaugas Jurkynas, Vytautas Magnus University
Managing Leader Selection in Political Parties in Poland		Maciej Hartliński	University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
How the European Union changes party systems in CEE		Beata Kosowska-Gąstoł	Jagiellonian University in Krakow
Party System Institutionalization and Fiscal Discipline		Cătălin Constantin Balan	University of Bucharest
The decline of the importance of socialist parties in the CEE countries – causes and consequences		Jacek Wojnicki	University of Warsaw
Measuring Party Similarity: A Comparative Evaluation of Metrics		Daria Boratyn, Damian Brzyski, Beata Kosowska-Gąstoł, Albert Leśniak, Wojciech Łukasik, Jan Rybicki, Wojciech Słomczyński, Dariusz Stolicki	Jagiellonian University, Center for Quantitative Political Science
The Impact of Personalisation of the Electoral System on Personalisation of Political Parties: Experience from Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina		Zlatko Vujovic, Marko Savic	University of Montenegro

Panel 15. Room: 002	Patterns of Penetration to Democratic Systems from Authoritarian Regimes Panel chair: Assoc. prof. Sima Rakutienė, Vytautas Magnus University
Influence of authoritarian regime ideas: media narratives and public perspectives, Latvian case		Iveta Reinholde, Inese Abolina	University of Latvia
Resilience of local democracy: the Case of Municipal Political Leadership in Lithuania		Jurga Bučaitė- Vilkė	Vytautas Magnus University
Resilience to Russian information propaganda and disinformation: physical and cognitive aspects		Dmytro Larovyi	Vytautas Magnus University
The diverse narratives and perceptions of the Russian invasion: a comparison between Lithuania, Poland and Italy.		Daniela La Foresta, Magdalena Ratajczak	University of Naples Federico II, Wroclaw University
The Democratic Development of East-Central Europe. A Comparison of change in Informal Institutions in Estonia, Poland, Romania, and Hungary since joining EU		Johannes Böhnlein	University of Würzburg
Discourse on Democratic Resilience to Authoritarian States: Analysis of the Influence of Russia and China in the Lithuanian Mainstream Party Debates		Sima Rakutienė	Vytautas Magnus University

Panel 16 Room: 220	Citizens‘ Trust and Attitudes towards the EU Panel chair: Assoc. prof. Ingrida Unikaitė-Jakuntavičienė, Vytautas Magnus University
Poles – are they still in love with the EU? How populists influence attitudes towards the EU.		Agnieszka Kasińska-Metryka	Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce
Just give me money and let me be Roots of EU support among Montenegrin citizens		Slaven Živković, Olivera Komar	DeFacto Consultancy, University of Montenegro
Anti-EU narratives delivered to the Russian-speaking audience in Lithuania by Kremlin-backed media (Sputnik Lithuania, Baltnews)		Viktor Denisenko	General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
Rethinking Eurooptimism: The Case of Czech MEPs within the Eurosceptic Paradigm		Veronika Velička Zapletalová and Pavlína Kutnarová	Masaryk University
The attitude of the Polish Diaspora in the Republic of South Africa towards the European Union		Arkadiusz Żukowski	University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn

Break

Panel 17. Room:106	Political Communication Panel chair: Prof. Kristina Juraitė, Vytautas Magnus University
Still Negative? Uncovering Principles of Populist Communication in case of two Central European Presidential Elections		Aleš Michal, Filip Žiljak	Charles University, Prague
Lessons Learned from Policy Responses to Disinformation in the Baltic Countries: Looking Beyond Risk-Awareness and Securitization		Auksė Balčytienė, Agnese Davidsone, Andra Siibak, Signe Ivask	Vytautas Magnus University, Vidzeme University College, Tartu University
Promoting dialogue and civic agency amid digital disruption: A new approach to public communication ethics		Kristina Juraitė	Vytautas Magnus University
Crisification of EU Communication: An In-depth Analysis of the EU Institutions’ Twitter Discourse		Monika Brusenbauch Meislová, Karolína Garančovská	Masaryk University, Visiting Professor at Aston University
Multistakeholder partnerships in communications policy for digital resilience		Rimgailė Kasparaitė	Vytautas Magnus University
Lithuanian Youth’s Digital Literacy Skills And Self-Conscious Use Of Information In A Changing Media Landscape		Patricija Lenčiauskienė	Vytautas Magnus University

Panel 18 Room: 313	Public policy 1 Panel chair: Assoc. prof. Ligita Šarkutė, Vytautas Magnus University
What kinds of emotions are mobilised by different policy fields? A text mining analysis of parliamentary speeches		Zsolt Boda & Orsolya Ring	HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences
Monetary policy in the service of financial nationalism: The case of post-2013 Hungary		Krisztian Nemeth	Corvinus University of Budapest
Europeanization of national volunteer policies: challenges and barriers		Remigijus Civinskas	Vytautas Magnus University
Evaluation of the integration of the evidence-based policy of early childhood intervention into Lithuanian context: the perspective of service users		Ilona Tamutienė, Vaida Auglytė	Vytautas Magnus University
Panel 19. Room: 311	Local governance and political participation Panel chair: Gabrielė Burbulytė-Tsiskarishvili, Klaipeda university
Faces of local democracy – do citizens still want to participate?		Karolina Tybuchowska-Hartlińska	Uniwersytet Warmińsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie
Women’s share in municipal elections in lithuania (1995-2023): the arithmetic of gender power		Gabrielė Burbulytė-Tsiskarishvili	Klaipeda university
Do female mayors support and implement participatory tools? The perceptions of strong democracy across European Councillors		Jakub Lysek	Palacký University Olomouc
Culture and Art (Online and Offline) as an Important Factor in Changing Democratic Participation in Elections		Małgorzata Kaczorowska	University of Warsaw
Navigating the Digital: Technological Affordances and Political Participation on Social Media in Lithuania		Lina Auškalnienė	Vytautas Magnus University
Exploring the culture of (dis)trust at the level of local governance in selected European countries		Inga Gaižauskaitė, Viktorija Baranauskienė,	Vytautas Magnus University

Panel 20. Room:312	Political discourses, narratives and memory politics in CEE countries Panel chair: assoc.prof. Tomasz Blaszczak, Vytautas Magnus University
The EU’s Vision for Ukraine. How are the Ukrainian Politicians using the Media Scene narrative to Manipulate of the Public Opinion?		Anzhelika Savchuk-Konarska	University Merito, Wrocław
Going the full circle: Evolution of the Baltic States’ discourses on Russia (2004-2024)		Kiryl Kascian, Viktor Denisenko, Irmina Matonytė	International Centre for Ethnic and Linguistic Diversity Studies, Prague; General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
Pathways to Agonism: Managing Competing Memories and Peacekeeping in Disputed Territories		Tomasz Rawski and Christina Horvath	University of Warsaw, University of Bath
Eastern European Common Past? Trauma and Coloniality in the De-imperial Project of the Shared Memory		Bartłomiej Krzysztan	Institute of Political Studies of Polish Academy of Sciences
The problem of hermeneutical method when applying it for the understanding of Russia		Tomas Kavaliauskas	Vytautas Magnus University
The president as the culprit? Edvard Beneš and February 1948 in the context of history textbooks		Jan Bureš	Metropolitan University Prague

Panel 21 Room: 002	Security studies and cooperative strategies Panel chair: Assoc. prof. Ieva Gajauskaitė, General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
The changes of security policies of Baltic States in the face of the Russian aggression against Ukraine”.		Konstantinas Lotiuk	Klaipėda University
Transformation of Ukraine‘s armed forces command in late 2010‘s: a new field of Europeanization studies?		Aivaras Bagdonas	General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
Strategic Narratives, Reflexive Control and Russia’s Nuclear Deterrence		Ieva Karpavičiūtė	Vytautas Magnus University
Russia and Iran: Forever Friends?		Matej Machacek	Masaryk University

FRIDAY

4th of October, 2024

Panel 22. Room: 311	IPSA RC13 – Democratization in comparative perspective Democratic backsliding: from Brazil to Latvia Panel chair: Prof. Irmina Matonytė, Military Academy of Lithuania Discussant: Assoc. prof. Liutauras Gudžinskas, Vilnius university
The Rise of a Populist or the Misuse of Impeachment? Unveiling the Cause of Brazilian’s Democratic Backsliding		Gustavo Venturelli	Skidmore College
Takeover by Taliban in Afghanistan: A Case Study of De-Democratization in South Asia		Mithila Bagai Verma; Smriti Singh	University of Delhi
Causes and Manifestations of De-democratisation: The Concepts of Clientelist, Illiberal and Progressive Democracy in the Context of Central Europe		Michal Klíma	Metropolitan University Prague
Major cities as “democratic enclaves” in de-democratising countries. Analysis of Polish cities of Warsaw and Rzeszów		Adam Szymański	University of Warsaw
Latvia and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities: uneasy dialogue and some glances at the Lithuania’s case		Kiryl Kascian	International Centre for Ethnic and Linguistic Diversity Studies, Prague
Better We Don’t See Each Other? Intergroup Contact and Satisfaction with Democracy in the Western Balkans		Nemanja Batrićević, Nemanja Stankov	University of Montenegro

Panel 23 Room: 313	Political ideologies and post-communism Panel chair: Assoc. prof. Rytis Bulota, Vytautas Magnus University
Remainings of Socialism? A Possible Political Cultural Legacy of the Socialist Era among Hungarian Youth		Viktor Papházi	HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University of Budapest
Ideological preferences and attitude towards clientelism. The case of young voters in Poland		Piotr Sula, Kamil Błaszczyński, Michał Kuś	University of Wrocław
Between East And West: Political Trust, Party Preferences And Geopolitical Alignment In Slovakia		Jozef Zagrapan	Institute for Sociology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences
Sneaky autocratization in Hungary, Slovakia and Poland		Sonja Priebus and Darina Malová	Comenius University Bratislava/European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)
Electoral Behavior of Post-Communist Peripheries, Evidence From The Czech Republic		Šárka Pittnerová	Masaryk University
The Soviet past and the Baltic security challenges		Rytis Bulota	Vytautas Magnus University

Panel 24. Room: 002	Migration and Ethnic minorities in CEE countries Panel chair/-s: Assist. lecturer Mariann Tánczos, Ludovika – University of Public Service
Migration trends and policies in Hungary after EU accession		Sándor Gallai	Corvinus University of Budapest and Mathias Corvinus Collegium
The New Pact on Migration and Asylum A Solution or a Patch?		Mariann Tánczos	Ludovika – University of Public Service
Assessment of the Visegrad Group Discourse on the Migration Crisis Compared to EU Institutions		Tofig Ismayilzada	Corvinus University of Budapest
Navigating Ethnic Minority Challenges: Political, Social, and Cultural Dynamics in Latvia and Lithuania		Aistė Žemaitytė	Vytautas Magnus University
Minority religions in Lithuanian Parliamentary debates: any discourse shifts in 1990-2023?		Eglė Aleknaitė	Vytautas Magnus University
The illiberal post-secular turns and its effects for Muslim communities in Hungary		Dániel Vékony	Vytautas Magnus University

Panel 25 Room: 312	EU as international actor: policies and impact Panel chair: Assoc. prof. Ieva Karpavičiūtė, Vytautas Magnus University
The EU as a normative power: challenges in relations with the Indo-Pacific		Lucia Husenicova	Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica
EU Integration Process in the South Caucasus after the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War		Shirak Safaryan	University of Wroclaw
The Impact of CEE Countries on the Evolution of Space Exploration and Governance		Matúš Babják	Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica
The EU – Central Asia cooperation: “mission (im)possible”?		Giedrius Kviklys	Vytautas Magnus University
Great Power Competition in Territorial Autonomies: The Case of Gagauzia		Marcin Kosienkowski	The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin

Panel 26 Room: 310	International Relations and Security Studies Panel chair: PhD Justinas Juozaitis, General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania

(More than) 20 Years of Experience. Selected Central and Eastern European Countries as ODA Donors		Monika Szynol	University of Silesia
Development Of European Defence Capabilities: Challenges And Opportunities		Gerda Jakštaitė-Confortola	General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
Differentiated integration and PESCO – case study analysis		Molnár Anna	University Of Public Service
State and state-sponsored terrorism: A case analysis of Russia		Agnietė Zotkevičiūtė-Banevičienė	General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania
Defence Priorities of Baltic Countries in the Context of Escalating Geopolitical Threats		Mindaugas Norkevičius, Vigilija Žiūraitė	Vytautas Magnus University
Lithuania’s Defence Paradigm Shift: Integrating Collective and Total Defence Strategies		Giedrius Česnakas	General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania

Coffee break

Panel 27 Room: 311	Public Policy 2 Panel chair: Assoc. prof. Remigijus Civinskas, Vytautas Magnus University
Housing as a Right, Not a Commodity – Reflections on the Anniversary of EU Expansion		Mateusz Zieliński	Uniwersytet Wrocławski
Incorporating Alcohol’s Harm to Others into Lithuania’s Policy Agenda: Barriers and Pathways		Ilona Tamutienė, Daumantas Stumbrys	Vytautas Magnus University
Changes in teaching about the EU and young people’s knowledge and skills in this area – the case of the Polish matriculation exams in civic education from years 2020-2024		Agnieszka Bejma, Piotr Załęski	University of Warsaw
The Ethical Aspect in European Intelligence Cooperation – Forms and Narratives		David Shakarishvili	Klaipeda University

Panel 28 Room: 310	Parliamentarism and national bargaining in the EU Panel chair: PhD Marko Kukec, Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg
The Politics of Investigative Parliamentary Committees: Evidence from Central and Eastern Europe		Marko Kukec	Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg
Drifting towards the East? An AI-supported analysis of the sentiment of Central-Eastern European parliaments towards great powers		Miklós Sebők – Levente Pakot – Orsolya Ring –Csaba Molnár – Ákos Holányi	HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences, Budapest
The comparative advantages of the Visegrad countries after participating in the EU and the capitalist political response		Thi-Ly Nguyen, Norbert Szijarto	Corvinus University of Budapest
Presidency as a Task: Reflection of the Czech Presidency 2022 by Czech Insiders in Brussels		David Broul, Jakub Janega	Palacky University Olomouc
THE FRANKFURT (SIDE-)EFFECT? Eurozone membership (and non-membership) and the quality of democracy in Central and Eastern Europe		Krisztina Arató	ELTE Faculty of Law, Institute of Political Science, Jean Monnet Fellow, European University Institute, Robert Schuman Centre

Panel 29. Room: 312	Conspiracy theories and manipulations Panel chair: Agnieszka Turska-Kawa, University of Silesia
European Crises as a Source of Social Frustrations and Conspiracy Beliefs. Evidence from Central and Eastern Europe		Agnieszka Turska-Kawa, Christian Welzel, Boglárka Koller	University of Silesia, Leuphana University in Luneburg, University of Public Service
How Contagious Are Political Conspiracy Theories?		Paweł Matuszewski	Collegium Civitas
Unveiling the Veil: Exploring Conspiracy Theories Surrounding the Introduction of the Digital Euro in Slovenia		Tine Šteger	University of Ljubljana
The Euro as a political tool		Laura Gheorghiu	Karl Franzens University Graz

PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR CONFERENCE ATENDEES

Travelling to Kaunas

By car
Travelling to Kaunas by car is hassle-free from Riga, Warsaw, Vilnius, Klaipeda and pretty much the rest of the cities in the surrounding region. In the central part of Kaunas, parking fees are applicable from 8 am to midnight daily, or from 8 am to 8 pm daily.

By bus
Kaunas Bus Station is one of the most modern in the region – not only it looks great in pictures but is open 24/7 and offers plenty of activities for those waiting for intercity and international buses.
Intercity and international coach services are provided by Kautra, Eurolines, Ecolines, Flixbus, Toks and Lux Express. Check the timetables and buy tickets online.
The bus station is not far from the city center – it takes less than 15 minutes on foot to reach St. Michael, the Archangel (Garrison) Church (also known as Soboras) or Laisvės alėja pedestrian street. Tickets and timetables: www.autobusubilietai.lt

By train
Kaunas is conveniently accessible by train from Vilnius (1 and other cities in Lithuania and abroad, including Warsaw and Krakow. Laisvės alėja, the main street in Kaunas, is just a 15-minute walk from the railway station. For timetables and ticket purchases, it is recommended to check online www.ltglink.lt

By plane
You can fly directly to Kaunas from more than 20 cities in Europe (check the timetables on the website of Kaunas international airport). Kaunas International Airport is located in the central part of the country, 14 km northeast of the Kaunas city centre and 100 km west of the capital Vilnius. Hop in the city bus #29 (its timetable is adjusted to the arrivals schedule) to reach the city centre for the most affordable price – 1 Eur! Regular taxi (we recommend the eTaksi, eTransport, BOLT app, UBER app is also an option, but less popular so it might take a longer waiting time), CITYBEE and BOLT car sharing service are all available at the airport too.

Getting around Kaunas

By public transport
Kaunas is a very walkable city; we suggest you pack your most comfortable shoes. To reach objects in the outskirts of the city (or if it rains, or if you happen to love buses and trolleybuses!), we suggest you use a well-developed network of public transport. Download the Trafi app for real-time traffic and timetables and Žiogas app for purchasing (cheaper) tickets. The latter is super-fast and convenient! There’s also a public transport network website called stops.lt that quite possibly speaks your language, too.
Kaunas city public transport service center is located at Laisvės al. 114, Kaunas (opposite the E. Ožeškienė st. stop)
More information: https://www.visit.kaunas.lt/en/plan/transport/arrival-to-kaunas/

Here is a route to get from Kaunas train station to the conference venue (Vytautas Magnus University). You can walk on foot, but it will take about 30 minutes. There are quite a few buses that can take you to our university. The same route and buses go from Kaunas Bus Station, because it is a few minutes away from the train station. You can purchase a ticket from the bus
driver (cash only!) or download Žiogas mobile app. All the routes and schedule of buses are available on Google Maps.

From Kaunas bus station to the conference venue

ACCOMMODATION

LIST OF SUGGESTED HOTELS IN KAUNAS

Closest to the University and to pedestrian street Laisvės alėja:
✓ METROPOLIS***
✓ RADISSON HOTEL KAUNAS****
✓ MOXY KAUNAS***
✓ BEST BALTIC KAUNAS****
✓ KAUNAS CITY HOTEL ***
✓ HOF HOTEL****
✓ KAUNAS****

Close to the bus and train station (not far from the University (3 stops by bus) :
✓ IBIS KAUNAS CENTRE***
✓ IBIS STYLES KAUNAS***
✓ VICTORIA HOTEL KAUNAS**** (500 m from Laisvės alėja, 750 m from bus station)

Near the Old Town or in the Old Town (University you may reach on foot or go 2-3 stops by bus):
✓ APPLE ECONOMY **
✓ VILLA KAUNENSIS**
✓ BEST WESTERN SANTAKA**** (100 m from the Old Town,)
✓ DAUGIRDAS****
✓ AMBERTON COZY****
✓ BERMAN HOUSE

More information about accomodation in Kaunas available

Here are the closest hotels to the conference venue:

SUGGESTED RESTAURANTS

Vytautas Magnus University lies next to Vienybės (Unity) square where you will quite a few places to grab a coffee, nice breakfast or lunch!

One of the best and affordable places to have lunch is iLunch (K. Donelaičio g. 60, Kaunas, 44248 Kauno m. sav.)

Other places for lunch and dinners next to Vytautas Magnus University:
✓ Mamma Kitchen (V. Putvinskio g. 53, K. Donelaičio g. 62)
✓ Brooklyn Brothers (K. Donelaičio g. 69)
✓ Višta puode (S. Daukanto g. 23)
✓ Paslėpti receptai (Laisvės al. 57)
✓ Restaurant „Putvinskio 48“ (V. Putvinskio 48)
✓ Pas Romano Paolo Bella Italia (Daukanto 14)
✓ Grill London (Laisvės al. 72)
✓ Charlie Pizza (Laisvės al. 68)
✓ Mtevani (Laisvės al. 56)
✓ Talutti tex-mex (Laisvės al. 74)

Of course, do not forget to taste some of our fine Lithuanian traditional dishes. Here are a few places we suggest (mostly in other parts of the city centre):

✓ Bernelių užeiga (K. Donelaičio g. 11, and M. Valančiaus g. 9)
✓ Avilys (Vilniaus gatvė 34)
✓ Bajorkiemis (Kęstučio g. 86)
✓ Miesto sodas City Garden (Laisvės al. 93)

Have a wonderful time and we hope that you’ll enjoy Kaunas!

PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR CONFERENCE ATENDEES

CONFERENCE VENUE
Vytautas Magnus University
Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy
V. Putvinskio str. 23
LT-44243 Kaunas, Lithuania

ARRIVAL TO KAUNAS
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania, situated in the center of the country. It is also at the confluence of Lithuania’s two biggest rivers! Here are the most convenient ways of travelling to Kaunas and getting around the city.