Not tanks, but apathy: the real threat to Lithuania's democracy - Tomas Janeliunas
Lithuanian political analyst Tomas Janeliunas discusses the risks of democratic backsliding and institutional capture in Europe. He argues that apathy and the rise of populist movements pose a greater threat to democracy than external military aggression.
Why it matters
Understanding the internal vulnerabilities of democratic systems is critical for monitoring political stability in the Baltic region and broader Europe.
Tomas Janeliunas, a prominent Lithuanian political analyst and Professor at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University, recently published his widely discussed study, Risks and Scenarios of Lithuania's Political Capture (2025/2026), which outlines several potential worst-case scenarios for Lithuania's democracy . The Baltic Times Magazine spoke with Janeliunas about his findings and their implications for the country.
The article presents an expert's analysis on political trends without taking a partisan stance on specific Lithuanian parties.
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