Thompson, Hunter Bryan2007-08-232012-02-242007-08Thompson, H. B. (2007). The process of decentralization in Ex-Soviet states: A case study on the Republic of Lithuania. Masters of Public Administration, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.https://hdl.handle.net/10877/3742An Applied Research Project Submitted to the Department of Political Science, Texas State University-San Marcos, in Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Public Administration, Summer 2007.The purpose of this research is to assess the attitudes and perceptions of Lithuanian public administrators on the process of decentralization as it is currently implemented in Lithuania. The purpose of this research is exploratory and the conceptual framework utilized is descriptive categories. The concept of decentralization has taken on many different meanings and expected ends throughout the years. In order to guide this research, and formulate meaningful survey questions, the process of decentralization and its perceived impact on the bureaucracy, society, and the relationship between bureaucracy and society were studied. The data shows that while the process of decentralization is received positively and with open arms, the current implementation of the process in Lithuania is leaving some public administrators to doubt its effectiveness. Some administrators have shown through their responses to the survey, that they are a little hesitant in increasing the magnitude of decentralization and especially privatization. This hesitation could fade as the administrators begin to understand, and more importantly realize, some of the long-term effects of the process. It is clear that the tight grip of control that the central government still holds over the localities will continue to hamper further efforts at decentralization and national reform. Only when the Republic of Lithuania decentralizes the power and authority of the central government will the perceptions and doubts of the public administrators either by quashed or realized.Text112 pages1 file (.pdf)endecentralizationSoviet UnionprivatizationLithuaniaBaltic Statessurvey researchPublic AdministrationApplied Research Project