In the face of evolving geopolitical tensions, digital transformations, and the emergence of new civic challenges – such as Russia’s military aggression and the arrival of refugee communities – civic education in Lithuania has become a matter of renewed urgency. While traditionally centered on transmitting political knowledge, civic education increasingly plays a critical role in shaping civic virtues, values, and participatory attitudes. This research is dedicated to a question: how different models of civic education - liberal and communitarian - have influenced Lithuania’s civic landscape since independence, and how these frameworks respond to current societal needs?
The study employs a comparative historical analysis of Lithuanian educational policies, civic participation trends, and socio-political contexts, tracing civic education’s evolution from the communitarian mobilization of the Sąjūdis era to a liberal emphasis on individual autonomy and legal-rational governance. Data is drawn from policy documents, curriculum reforms, and secondary analyses of civic engagement indicators in Lithuania from 1990 to the present.
Findings reveal that while liberal models have institutionalized civic norms through rights-based education, they often fall short in fostering emotional engagement and community belonging. Conversely, communitarian models encourage solidarity and active citizenship but risk marginalizing individual freedoms. An integrative approach is proposed, combining liberal and communitarian elements to develop a civic education model aligned with Lithuania’s present context, aimed at enhancing democratic resilience, social cohesion, and a participatory civic culture.