Klaipėdos universitetas

Straipsnis skirtas specifinio Rusijos regiono – Kaliningrado srities – socialinio ekonominio vystymosi posovietiniu laikotarpiu analizei. Didelis dėmesys skiriamas srities statusui, kaip pagrindiniam šio regiono plėtros determinantui, problema nagrinėjama aptariant centrinio ir vietinio lygmens statuso transformacijos koncepcijas. Pateikiamos esminės pagrindinių programinių dokumentų, nustatančių prioritetines Kaliningrado srities socialinės ekonominės raidos XXI a. kryptis, charakteristikos. Vertinant regiono raidą atkreipiamas dėmesys į sisteminius planavimo trūkumus, įvertinamas pakitusios geopolitinės situacijos ir pasaulinių naftos kainų kritimo poveikis kaliningradiečių gyvenimo lygiui. Galimas strateginis regiono raidos proveržis siejamas su srities statuso problemos sprendimu.

The article discusses XXI c. trends of tourism development in the Kaliningrad Region, Russian Federation. The main focus is on the analysis of regional tourism development program documents and basic projects of tourism sector. Based on statistical data, parameters of tourism development in the Kaliningrad Region are assessed, and factors and problems slowing down the process are identified.

This paper investigates the question – why the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at the peak of its power in the 15th century, failed to acquire Klaipeda, its natural gateway to the sea, whereas the young post World War I state of Lithuania, having lost its historic capital – Vilnius, managed to annex Klaipėda and its region (Memelland). Historic facts and events, as well as evaluations and conclusions presented by Lithuanian and foreign historians, are examined by invoking classic and Lithuanian geopolitical statements and insights. Expansion to the East, which was intrinsic to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at this time, is analysed as a major cause of its inability to expand to the Baltic shore. Opportunities to capture Klaipėda presented by the Thirteen Year War between Poland and the Teutonic Order in the 1450-60’s are evaluated. The 1923 annexation of Klaipėda and its region by Lithuania is shown as the result of a favourable geopolitical situation.