The Impact of the USSR on Lithuania's Domestic Policy and Its International Orientation in the Third Decade of the Twentieth Century

This article investigates links between domestic and foreign policy, topics which are usually discussed rather than analyzed in any detail. The case of the USSR and Lithuania is taken as an historical example of the impact of the external factor on domestic policy, and an attempt is made to elucidate how the Soviets tried to influence and correct Lithuania's policy in the inter-war period by providing financial assistance to parties and their press. In this way they sought to set Lithuania against Poland and fuel the conflict between them, so that they would not become reconciled, would not create the so-called Baltic Union with Latvia, Estonia and Finland and would not orient themselves to the West. Using financial and other levers of secret policy, the Soviets contributed significantly to pushing the pro-Western Christian Democratic Party away from power in Lithuania so that the Nationalists, who sought to establish closer relations with the USSR, came to be established. The overseas financing of parties which remained unknown to the public distorted the political process of Lithuania and hindered the maturing of social awareness

Democracy · Economic history · Economic policy · Economics · Economy · European union · Foreign policy · Period (music · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Power (physics · Sociology · European Cultural and National Identity · Historical Geopolitical and Social Dynamics · Law · Polish Historical and Cultural Studies

• The Emergence of the Lithuanian Radical Right Movement, 1922–1927

  Vytautas Petronis•Journal of Baltic Studies•2015

  Add to list

• Top Estonian Politician Konstantin päts's Financial Dealings with Moscow

  Jaak Valge•Journal of Baltic Studies•2012

  Add to list