In this paperwe demonstratehow co1pora of parliamentaiy debate transcriptscan be used for studying changes of political agenda. Employing dictionaiy-based analysis we investigated changing attention to the topic of human rights in the Lithuanian topic of human rights duringthe analysed period increasedconsiderablywhen two focusing events - fraudulent elecotins in Belams in 2020 and the influx that changing public political prio1ities resulting in electoral success of pruties mobilising support rfo those newly emergingpri01ities had efect on increasingadvocacy of human 1ights topic on the p-ruIiamenta1y agenda by representativesof the FreedomPrutywhich enteredthe Seimas with the explicit agenda of advocating forradical changes in public policy relatedto human 1ights.
2 VytautasnMagus 1. Introduction
political attention in a multitude of contexts [I], [2].
However, tr ansc1ipts of parliamenta1y debates have been used quite seldom for this purpose. More often employed alternatives analyses of parliamenta1y debate topics ru·e or agendas (minutes), legislative acts (debated or adopted), oral and wiitten questions to the government, and interpellations [3].
p1imru·ily the result of the still existing difcfiulty of analysing lru·ge amounts of textual data .
Though machine learning methods and topic modelling approaches have been shown to be in analysing lrug· e textual datasets originating in the political field, these methods sufferfrom either the need for lru·gehuman pre coded resources(supervised) or interpretatoinal dificulties
(unsupervised): How many topics to retain? Howto inte1pret the substantive meaning of the topics that wereretained?
Moreover,we approach the analysis of political attention in the parliament via dictionaiy-based coding methods of computerised content analysis [4]. Though it is lightly ai·gued that dictiona1y based coding methods ai·e high on pre-analysis costs compai·ed to topic modelling approaches [5], they have two distinctive merits. First, they allow
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ceur-ws.org i n v esti g at e d a n d t h eir v o c a b ul ari es c a n b e p arli a m e nt a r y a g e n d a will b e aff e ct e d c o m p ar ati v el y e asil y c o nstr u ct e d (t h at is, t h e a c c or di n gl y. v o c a b ul ari es of s p e a ki n g a b o ut t h es e t o pi cs ar e O n t h e ot h er h a n d, r es e ar c h ers als o c o nt e n d q uit e disti n cti v e i n t er ms of t h e c o n c e pts a n d t h at c h a n g es i n p oliti c al l e a d ers hi p ( d uri n g w or ds us e d). S e c o n d, t h e y all o w c a pt uri n g m or e el e cti o ns or d u e t o c h a n g es i n g o v er n m e nt e asil y w h at l e gisl at ors d o n ot s a y [ 6] a n d, i n t ur n, c o m p ositi o n) m a y h a v e a si g nifi c a nt sti m ul us f or i n di c at e w hi c h t o pi cs ar e e x cl u d e d fr o m t h e a g e n d a c h a n g e. C ar mi n es a n d Sti ms o n [ 9] p oliti c al a g e n d a. I n c o ntr ast, u ns u p er vis e d t o pi c i ntr o d u c e d t h e c o n c e pt of “iss u e c o m p etiti o n ” t h at m o d elli n g c a n o nl y c a pt ur e t o pi cs t h at ar e b ei n g r efl e cts t h e i d e a t h at p arti es c o m p et e o n w hi c h t al k e d a b o ut i n t h e d e b at es ( at l e ast f or s o m e iss u es s h o ul d d o mi n at e t h e p art y p oliti c al a g e n d a. p eri o ds). As W al k er a n d W at er m a n [ 1 0] ass ert, el e cti o ns
I n t er ms of s u bst a nti v e g o als, w e st u d y aff e ct p e o pl e’s attit u d es t o w ar ds s o ci al iss u es dis c ursi v e r ef er e n c es t o t h e t o pi c of “ H u m a n si n c e p oliti c al c a m p ai g ns fr a m e s o ci al iss u es or ri g hts ” i n t h e Lit h u a ni a n P arli a m e nt (t h e S ei m as) p ut m or e e m p h asis o n s o m e iss u es r at h er t h a n i n t h e p eri o d 2 0 2 0-2 0 2 1. T h e c h oi c e of t h e st u d y ot h ers. P art y p oliti c al a g e n d a is m ost i m p ort a nt t o pi c w as pri m aril y b as e d o n t h e r el ati v e e asi n ess d uri n g t h e el e cti o n ti m e, as p arti es t h at d o mi n at e of c o nstr u cti n g a di cti o n ar y of a p p e als t o “ H u m a n t his a g e n d a ar e b o u n d t o wi n el e cti o ns. I n ri g hts ” i n p arli a m e nt ar y d e b at es. T h e p oliti c al Lit h u a ni a, t h e c a m p ai g n of t h e p arli a m e nt ar y dis c o urs e o n h u m a n ri g hts h as a disti n cti v e el e cti o ns of 2 0 2 0 c o ul d b e disti n g uis h e d b y t h e v o c a b ul ar y as s p e cifi c ati o ns a n d d efi niti o ns of e m er g e n c e of t h e Fr e e d o m P art y, w hi c h pr o d u c e d diff er e nt h u m a n ri g hts ar e i n cl u d e d i nt o v ari o us c o m pr e h e nsi v e h u m a n ri g hts dis c o urs e a p p e ali n g n ati o n al ( c o nstit uti o n al t e xts) a n d i nt er n ati o n al t o L G B T + ri g hts, a d v o c ati n g f or t h e l e g ali z ati o n d o c u m e nts (i nt er n ati o n al d o c u m e nts). of s a m e -s e x p art n ers hi ps a n d li b er al r e g ul ati o n of
H o w e v er, t h e c h oi c e of t h e t o pi c w as als o t h e s p elli n g of n o n-Lit h u a ni a n n a m es o n p ass p orts b as e d o n t h e gr o u n ds of us ef ul n ess f or t h e a n al ysis a n d si mil ar. Si n c e t h e Fr e e d o m P art y h as als o of p oliti c al a g e n d a c h a n g es. Diff er e nt t h e ori es tr y b e c o m e a m e m b er of t h e g o v er n m e nt al c o aliti o n, t o e x pl ai n w h y s p e cifi c t o pi cs a p p e ar o n a n d w e e x p e ct t h at r e pr es e nt ati v es of t his p art y will dis a p p e ar fr o m t h e p oliti c a l a g e n d a. T his p a p er e n g a g e i n h u m a n ri g hts r el at e d dis c o urs e i n t h e d e m o nstr at es h o w f o c usi n g e v e nts a n d c h a n g es i n S ei m as fl o or pr o c e e di n gs m or e fr e q u e ntl y t h a n p u bli c p oliti c al pri oriti es aff e ct t h e p arli a m e nt ar y r e pr es e nt ati v es of ot h er p arti es. a g e n d a. S o m e s c h ol ars ar g u e t h at f o c usi n g e v e nts T o s u m u p, t h e p a p er f o c us es o n h o w t h e 2 0 2 0 – or dis ast ers, cris es a n d s u d d e n, s h o c ki n g e v e nts S ei m as el e cti o ns (i n p arti c ul ar, el e ct or al s u c c ess gr a b bi n g t h e att e nti o n of p oliti c a l elit es a n d of t h e Fr e e d o m P art y) a n d t w o f o c usi n g e v e nts s o ci eti es – c a n b e criti c al i n bri n gi n g s p e cifi c ( n a m el y, fr a u d ul e nt el e cti o ns i n B el ar us a n d th e iss u es t o t h e f or e of t h e p oliti c al a g e n d a or m a ki n g crisis of mi gr ati o n i nfl u x fr o m B el ar us), t h e m s ali e nt. Bir kl a n d [ 7] cl ai ms t h at f o c usi n g i nfl u e n c e d t h e p oliti c al att e nti o n of t h e Lit h u a ni a n e v e nts “ c a n r e v e al c urr e nt a n d p ot e nti al f ut ur e p arli a m e nt t o t h e t o pi c of h u m a n ri g hts. h ar ms, m o bilis e p e o pl e a n d gr o u ps t o a d dr ess t h e p oli c y f ail ur es ”. H o w e v er, ot h er s c h ol ars ar g u e 2. R el at e d w or k t h at n ot all f o c ussi n g e v e nts l e a d t o a g e n d a c h a n g e. D e L e o et al. [ 8] m ai nt ai n t h at “ e ntr e pr e n e urs s e e k t o fl o o d t h e p oli c y d e b at e wit h t h eir pr ef err e d c o nstr u cti o n of t h e pr o bl e m a n d its s ol uti o ns t o d e n y a g e n d a s p a c e t o ot h er a ct ors ”. N ot wit hst a n di n g t h e or eti c al ar g u m e nts wit h r e g ar d t o i nfl u e n c e of f o c usi n g e v e nts o n p oliti c al a g e n d a c h a n g es, i n t h e a n al ys e d p eri o d t w o f o c usi n g e v e nts – fr a u d ul e nt el e cti o ns i n B el ar us i n 2 0 2 0 a n d t h e i nfl u x of mi gr a nts fr o m B el ar us t o Lit h u a ni a i n 2 0 2 1 – t o o k pl a c e a n d w er e m assi v el y dis c uss e d i n t h e p u bli c s p h er e d uri n g t h e a n al ys e d p eri o d. T h es e t w o e v e nts m a y b e cl os el y r el at e d t o t h e dis c ussi o n of v ari o us as p e cts of h u m a n ri g hts, t h er ef or e, w e e x p e ct t h at
H u m a n ri g hts iss u es w er e s cr uti nis e d gl o b all y b y a d o pti n g v ari o us p ers p e cti v es, i n cl u d i n g s e c uritis ati o n a n d dis c o urs e t h e ori es. S c h ol ars e m pl o y e d s e c uritis ati o n t h e or y t o e x a mi n e h o w s o m e s o ci al iss u es ar e s e c uritis e d t o bri n g e xtr a or di n ar y m e as ur es t o d e al wit h a n ass u m e d t hr e at. S e c uritis ati o n of C O VI D-1 9, HI V/ AI D S, Zi k a mi gr ati o n, a n d o t h er s o ci al or h e alt h iss u es w er e t h or o u g hl y st u di e d, f o c usi n g o n h o w s e c uritis ati o n of a n i m pli e d t hr e at e m p o w ers p arli a m e nts a n d g o v er n m e nts t o e x pl oit e xtr a or di n ar y m e as ur es oft e n li miti n g i n di vi d u al fr e e d o ms ([ 1 1], [ 1 2], [ 1 3]). Ot h ers l o o k e d at t h e l a ng u a g e us e d t o pr o d u c e a n arr ati v e j ustif yi n g p oliti c al m e as ur es t a k e n or b ei n g a v oi d e d. M ol n ar et al. [ 1 4] ass ert t h at p arli a m e nt m e m b ers us e m et a p h ors of w ar a n d f e ar t o j ustif y d e cisi o ns t a k e n at p arli a m e nts t h at li mit h u m a n ri g hts a n d u n d er mi n e d e m o cr a c i es. F urt h er m or e, t h e r ol e of p arli a m e nt m e m b ers i n s h a pi n g h u m a n ri g hts or c o nt est ati o n of h u m a n ri g hts iss u es is a n ot h er s p e ctr u m of st u di es f o c usi n g o n p arli a m e nt ar y d e b at es as a pl atf or m f or a g e n d a -s etti n g a n d p oli c y m a ki n g [ 1 5]. V ol u mi n o us st u di es f o c u s o n t h e p arli a m e nt as a n a v e n u e t o c o ntri b ut e t o t h e h u m a n ri g hts a g e n d a, as a n a ct or t o pr o m ot e h u m a n ri g hts a n d fr a m e t h e h u m a n ri g hts a g e n d a or o v ers e e t h e e x e c uti v e a ut h oriti es ([ 1 6], [ 1 7]).
R ef er e n c es t o h u m a n ri g hts i n t h e Lit h u a ni a n p arli a m e nt ar y d e b at es w er e alr e a d y st u di e d i n t h e c o nt e xt of C O VI D -1 9 p a n d e mi c a n d it w as f o u n d t h at t h e P arli a m e nt el e ct e d i n 2 0 2 0 “ d e v ot e d m u c h m or e ti m e t o dis c ussi o ns c o n c er ni n g h u m a n ri g hts ” [ 1 8]. H o w e v er, t his st u d y o nl y c o v er e d t h e p eri o d of t h e y e ar 2 0 2 0, a n d r es ults c o ul d o nl y s h o w t h at g e n er al a p p e als t o h u m a n ri g hts ( b y t h e w h ol e p arli a m e nt) i n cr e as e d i n A u g ust 2 0 2 0, w hi c h c oi n ci d e d wit h t h e f o c usi n g e v e nts r el at e d t o fr a u d ul e nt el e cti o ns i n B el ar us i n 2 0 2 0. I n t his st u d y w e e xt e n d t h e p eri o d f or a n a d diti o n al y e ar (t h us, c o v eri n g a n ot h er f o c usi n g e v e nt r el at e d t o t h e crisis of mi gr ati o n i nfl u x fr o m B el ar us i n 2 0 2 1) a n d disti n g uis h b et w e e n dis c o urs es of diff er e nt p arli a m e nt ar y p art y gr o u ps (f a cti o ns).
T h e l att er d esi g n i m pr o v e m e nt all o ws us t o st u d y c h a n g es i n p arli a m e nt ar y dis c o urs e r el at e d t o iss u e c o m p etiti o n a n d c h a n gi n g p art y p oliti c al a g e n d a. Gr e e n -P e d ers e n [ 1 9] st u di e d p art y m a nif est os of W est er n E ur o p e a n p arti es i n t h e s e c o n d p art of t h e X X c e nt ur y a n d f o u n d t h at c h a n g es i n s o ci et al v al u es a n d pri oriti es h a d i m p ort a nt c o ns e q u e n c es f or p art y c o m p etiti o n as t h e c o nt e nt of t h e a g e n d a of p art y c o m p etiti o n c h a n g e d. I n g e n er al, iss u e c o m p etiti o n a n d p art y p oliti c al a g e n d as w er e m ostl y st u di e d i n t h e c o nt e xt of el e cti o ns e m pl o yi n g a n al ysis of t e xt u al d at a r etri e v e d fr o m p art y d o c u m e nts a n d m ass m e di a. A n al ysis of p arli a m e nt ar y d e b at es w as r ar el y us e d f or t h e p ur p os e of st u d yi n g c h a n gi n g str u ct ur e of p art y iss u e c o m p etiti o n. T his st u d y c o ntri b ut es t o t h e u n d erst a n di n g of c h a n gi n g p art y p oliti c al a g e n d a as i m p ort a nt s o ci et al c h a n g es ( c h a n gi n g v al u e pri oriti es) bri n g i nt o t h e p o w er p oliti c al p arti es w hi c h a d v o c at e s u p p ort f or iss u es t h at pr e vi o usl y w er e at t h e m ar gi ns of t h e p oliti c al dis c ussi o n. I n t h e Lit h u a ni a n c o nt e xt, t h e 2 0 2 0 S ei m as el e cti o ns c o ul d b e s e e n as a m a nif est ati o n of c h a n gi n g p art y p oliti c al a g e n d a si n c e a p art y a d v o c ati n g f or r a di c al c h a n g es i n p u bli c p oli c y r el at e d t o h u m a n ri g hts – t h e Fr e e d o m P art y – e m er g e d o n t h e p oliti c al s c e n e a n d w as s u c c essf ul i n wi n ni n g 1 1 s e ats ( al m ost 1 0 %) i n t h e n e wl y el e ct e d p arli a m e nt, c o ns e q u e ntl y, e nt eri n g t h e g o v er n m e nt al c o aliti o n. T h er ef or e, it is i m p ort a nt t o i n v esti g at e if t h e pr es e n c e of t h e Fr e e d o m P art y i n t h e G o v er n m e nt als o pr o d u c e d c h a n g es i n t h e c o nt e nt of t h e p arli a m e nt ar y d e b at es, t h at is, br o u g ht pr e vi o usl y m ar gi n al t o pi c of h u m a n ri g hts t o t h e f or e of p oliti c al dis c ussi o ns of t h e S ei m as.
Fi n all y, t h o u g h p oliti c al d e b at es i n t h e p arli a m e nt tr a diti o n all y w er e c o nsi d er e d b y m a n y l e gisl ati v e s c h ol ars t o b e “ c h e a p t al k ” [ 2 0], m or e r e c e nt st u di es e m pl o y e d s p ee c h es of t h e p arli a m e nt ar y d e b at es i n a n al ysi n g pr o mi n e nt t o pi cs a n d disti n ct dis c ursi v e p att er ns of l e gisl ati v e d e b at es ([ 2 1], [ 2 2], [ 2 3]), as w ell as t o i n v esti g at e e v ol uti o n of p oliti c al a g e n d a t o pi cs a n d e x pl ai n c h a n g es of p oliti c al att e nti o n [ 5].
T h us , a st u d y of p arli a m e nt ar y d e b at es tr a ns cri pts is a n a p pr o pri at e s o ur c e f or a n al ysi n g c h a n g es of p oliti c al a g e n d a a n d c h a n gi n g p att er ns of att e nti o n t o t h e t o pi c of h u m a n ri g hts i n t h e Lit h u a ni a n p arli a m e nt. F urt h er, si n c e p arli a m e nt ar y d e b at es pr o d u c e a l ot of t e xt u al d at a, w e e m pl o y c o m p ut eri z e d a n al ysis. C urr e nt tr e n d of p oliti c al st u di es, w h er e t e xts ar e us e d as d at a, is t o e m pl o y u ns u p er vis e d t o pi c m o d elli n g ([ 5], [ 2 4], [ 2 5], [ 2 6]). H o w e v er, t his m et h o d s uff ers fr o m pr o bl e ms r el at e d t o c h o osi n g t h e n u m b er of t o pi cs t o r et ai n a n d t h eir i nt er pr et ati o n.
M or e o v er, it o nl y m a k es p ossi bl e t o st u d y w h at is b ei n g s ai d a n d n ot w hi c h t o pi cs ar e e x cl u d e d fr o m t h e dis c ussi o n, w hi c h is es p e ci all y i m p ort a nt i n st u di es of p oliti c al a g e n d a c h a n g es [ 3]. T h er ef or e, w e e m pl o y a m or e tr a diti o n al di cti o n ar y -b as e d c o m p ut eri z e d a p pr o a c h t o c o nt e nt a n al ysis, as it all o ws t o st u d y t o pi cs t h at c a n b e u n e q ui v o c all y d efi n e d a n d h a v e e asil y i d e ntifi a bl e v o c a b ul ari es [ 4]. T h e t o pi c of “ H u m a n ri g hts ” m a y b e c o nsi d er e d as h a vi n g s u c h q u aliti es [ 2 7]. 3. D at a a n d m et h o d s 3. 1. C or p u s
As o ur d at a s o ur c e, w e us e d tr a ns cri pts of t h e S ei m as pl e n ar y d e b at es fr o m 1 J a n u ar y 2 0 2 0 t o 3 1 D e c e m b er 2 0 2 1. T his p eri o d is s o m e w h at e q u all y di vi d e d i nt o t w o s u b p eri o ds r e pr es e nti n g t h e l ast y e ar of t h e 8t h t er m o f t h e S ei m as ( 2 0 1 6-2 0 2 0) a n d t h e first y e ar of t h e 9t h t er m of t h e S ei m as ( 2 0 2 0-2 0 2 4). D at a w er e a ut o m ati c all y s cr a p e d fr o m t h e offi ci al d o c u m e nt s e ar c h sit e of t h e S ei m as: htt ps:// e s ei m as.lrs.lt/ p ort al/ d o c u m e nt S e ar c h/lt. W e e nt er e d t h e p eri o d ( 2 0 2 0- 0 1- 0 1 – 2 0 2 1- 1 2- 3 1) a n d t h e t y p e of d o c u m e nt( “ St e n o gr a m a ”), a n d t h e s e ar c h e n gi n e r etri e v e d a t ot al of 2 1 9 tr a ns cri pts i n M S W or d ( *. d o c x) f or m at.
T h e r etri e v e d fil es h a d t o b e c o n v ert e d i nt o t e xt u al d at a fil es ( pl ai n t e xt f or m at) t o b e pr o c ess e d wit h t e xt a n al yti c t o ols. It s h o ul d b e n ot e d t h at t h e e ntir e d at a s et is i n Lit h u a ni a n; t h er ef or e, it w as ess e nti al t o pr es er v e t h e U T F- 8 e n c o di n g f or f urt h er pr o c essi n g. T h e r etri e v e d d at a is a v ail a bl e o n t h e D at a v ers e r e p osit or y of t h e Lit h u a ni a n D at a Ar c hi v e f or S o ci al S ci e n c es a n d H u m a niti es ( htt ps:// h dl. h a n dl e. n et/ 2 1. 1 2 1 3 7/ W V X N 4 V).
T h e d e b at es w er e di vi d e d i nt o s p e e c h es, a n d t h e s p e e c h es of t h e S p e a k er of t h e sitti n g w er e eli mi n at e d d u e t o t h eir pr o c e d ur al n at ur e. S p e e c h es of n o n- M Ps w er e i n cl u d e d, as t h e y m a y h a v e b e e n gi v e n b y mi nist ers or s o m e ot h er i m p ort a nt p oliti c al a ct ors w h o m a y h a v e si g nifi c a ntl y i nfl u e n c e d t h e S ei m as' p oliti c al a g e n d a. S p e e c h es of M Ps a n d mi nist ers w er e assi g n e d t o p ositi o ns a n d o p p ositi o n a n d f a cti o ns. I nf or m ati o n a b o ut M Ps’ m e m b ers hi p i n f a cti o ns is pr o vi d e d o n t h e offi ci al w e bsit e of t h e S ei m as ( w w w.lrs.lt).
M e m b ers hi p of mi nist ers i n f a cti o ns w as d et er mi n e d usi n g t h e i nf or m ati o n o n w hi c h p art y d el e g at e d mi nist ers t o t h e G o v er n m e nt.
T a bl e 1 C or p us c h ar a ct eristi cs T his i nf or m ati o n is a v ail a bl e i n t h e G o v er n m e nt c o aliti o n a gr e e m e nts.
I nf or m ati o n a b o ut t h e n u m b er of s p e e c h es p er m o nt h b y t h e f a cti o ns a n al ys e d i n t h e p a p er (t h e o v er all n u m b er of s p e e c h es p er m o nt h a n d t h e n u m b er of s p e e c h es b y p ositi o n a n d o p p ositi o n M Ps p er m o nt h) ar e pr o vi d e d i n T a bl e 1 b el o w.
3. 2.
Di cti o n ar y c o m p ut eri z e d a n al y si s f or t h e
c o nt e nt
F or t h e p ur p os e of a n al ysi n g r ef er e n c es t o “ H u m a n ri g hts ” i n t h e s p e e c h es of m e m b ers of t h e Lit h u a ni a n P arli a m e nt ( M Ps), w e c o ns ult e d t h e Lit h u a ni a n C o nstit uti o n, ot h er n ati o n al a n d i nter n ati o n al l e g al d o c u m e nts r el at e d t o e ns uri n g h u m a n ri g hts (s u c h as, f or e x a m pl e, I nt er n ati o n al C o v e n a nt o n Ci vil a n d P oliti c al Ri g hts a n d I nt er n ati o n al C o v e n a nt o n E c o n o mi c, S o ci al a n d C ult ur al Ri g hts). T h e s e ar c h t er ms i n cl u d e d i n t h e di cti o n ar y ar e pr o vi d e d i n T a bl e 2 b el o w.
3. 3.
M et h o d s
T h e c o m p ut eris e d c o nt e nt a n al ysis w as p erf or m e d wit h t h e q u a nt e d a ( v ersi o n 3. 0) p a c k a g e [ 2 8] a v ail a bl e i n R l a n g u a g e a n d e n vir o n m e nt f or st atisti c al c o m p ut i n g a n d gr a p hi cs [ 2 9]. First, w e c o nstr u ct e d q u a nt e d a t o k e ns o bj e ct fr o m t h e c or p us r e m o vi n g p u n ct u ati o n m ar ks ( U ni c o d e “ P u n ct u ati o n ” [ P] t h o u g h t h eir r ol e i n pr o m oti n g h u m a n ri g hts a n d cl ass), s y m b ols a n d s e p ar at ors ( U ni c o d e m ai nt ai ni n g o v ersi g ht of i nt er n ati o n al o bli g ati o ns “ S y m b ol ” [ S], “ S e p ar at or ” [ Z] a n d “ C o ntr ol ” [ C] h as b e c o m e as n e v er vit al. M or e o v er, t h eir r ol e i n cl ass es) a n d r et ai ni n g n u m b ers as w ell as n ot u p h ol di n g h u m a n ri g hts o bli g ati o ns a n d s plitti n g w or ds t h at ar e c o n n e ct e d b y h y p h e n ati o n. pr o m oti n g h u m a n ri g hts a g e n d a is d e p e n d e nt o n
T h e n w e pr o c e e d e d wit h t h e s e ar c h of t h e e n g a g e m e nt of p arli a m e nt m e m b ers i n di cti o n ar y t er ms usi n g t h e q u a nt e d a f u n cti o n p arli a m e nt ar y d e b at es, w hi c h is a pri m ar y t o k e ns _l o o k u p. If a n y of t h e s e ar c h t er ms w er e pl atf or m f or di al o g u e i n d e m o cr a ci es. T h e i d e ntifi e d i n t h e s p e e c h, t h e s p e e c h w as m ar k e d as a n al ysis of Lit h u a ni a n p arli a m e nt ar y d e b at es c o nt ai ni n g a r ef er e n c e t o t h e “ H u m a n ri g hts ” c or p us r e v e al e d cl e ar fl u ct u ati o ns i n att e nti o n t o t o pi c. T h e n w e a g gr e g at e d t h e res ults b y m o nt h h u m a n ri g hts iss u es, w hi c h w er e i nfl u e n c e d b y ( a n d S ei m as t er m), c o u nti n g h o w m a n y s p e e c h es p arli a m e nt ar y el e cti o ns a n d f o c usi n g e v e nts p er m o nt h c o nt ai n e d r ef er e n c es t o t h e “ H u m a n o c c urri n g b ef or e t h e 2 0 2 0 S ei m as el e cti o ns a n d ri g hts ” t o pi c. S p e e c h es w er e als o a g gr e g at e d b y aft er t h e m. T h e S ei m as d e b at es tr a ns cri pt a n al ysis M Ps’ m e m b ers hi p i n f a cti o ns a n d b el o n gi n g t o t h e e x p os e d diff er e n c es i n attit u d es t o w ar ds h u m a n p ositi o n or o p p ositi o n. ri g hts d es pit e b ot h r uli n g m aj oriti es h a d t o d e al wit h t h e s a m e p u bli c h e alt h crisis – C O VI D -1 9 T a bl e 2 p a n d e mi c – c oi n e d as a f o c usi n g e v e nt. C or p us c h ar a ct eristi c Di cti o n ar y of s e ar c h t er ms N o n et h el ess, p arli a m e nts f a c e d t w o diff er e nt r el at e d t o “ h u m a n ri g hts ” t o pi c a d diti o n al f o c usi n g e v e nts t h at i m p a ct e d t h eir a cti vit y, o n e of w hi c h w as fr a u d ul e nt el e cti o ns i n
S e arc h T er ms B el ar us i n 2 0 2 0 b ef or e t h e 2 0 2 0 S ei m as el e cti o ns ž m o g a us t eis *a s u d ar * p art n er yst * a n d t h e i nfl u x of irr e g ul ar mi gr a nts fr o m B el ar us ž m o ni ų t eis * p art n er yst * i nstit ut o n e a n d a h alf y e ars aft er t h e 2 0 2 0 Lit h u a ni a n ** ddiiss kkrrii mmii nn auco** pprarojt enketr*yskta*i p*rpeagritstnre*r yst * p arli a m e nt el e cti o ns. T h e r el ati v el y l ar g est f o c us * dis kri mi n a v * pril y gi n * p art n er yst * o n a p p e als t o h u m a n ri g hts w as r el at e d t o e v e nts p at yč * s a nt u o k * p art n er yst * i n B el ar us, o n e of w hi c h dir e ctl y aff e ct e d n e a p y k a nt os k al b * ci vil * p art n er yst * Lit h u a ni a’s s e c urit y fr a m e w or k (s e e p eri o ds of vv aaii kk ųo tt eeiiss ** pp aarrtt nn eerr yysstt ** įįtsteiastiyn *m * 0 8. 2 0 2 0 a n d 0 7. 2 0 2 1 i n Fi g. 1). H o w e v er, i n 2 0 2 1 l y g * g ali m y b * g y v e n * p art n er yst * r uli n g m aj orit y’s a p p e als t o h u m a n ri g hts i n n eį g al * t eis * iš br a u k * p art n er yst * r e a cti o n t o t h e i nfl u x of mi gr a nts fr o m B el ar us pm aotž eeird*žti aeism** gr u p * pi anrsttinteurty*sta*r kpoarntcneeprcy*st * a n d r e c urri n g p a n d e mi c w a v es w a s m u c h m or e k a n ki ni m * p al ai k * p art n er yst * pr o n o u n c e d (s e e p eri o ds of 0 1. 2 0 2 1, 0 5. 2 0 2 1, t eis ės virš e n y b * p art n er yst * l ai k ot ar p * 0 7. 2 0 2 1, a n d 1 0. 2 0 2 1 i n Fi g. 1) t h a n att e nti o n t o spLraGeviBkrT*a*ižš kmoosnt*eis * prn aeergutltanr aelmr*yesnpt*a*rptmanroetrdnyeelsrt*y*st * 2h 0u 2m0a. n Dhiifgf ehtrse tn oc episci bn yatphpee palrse tviootuhseg ho uv emrannmrei ngthitsn s a vir aiš k os l ais v * p art n er yst * n u ost at * of r uli n g m aj oriti es st a n d o ut i n c o m p ari n g ž o dži o l ais v * p art n er yst * p a gri n d * p arli a m e nt ar y d e b at es c o n c er ni n g C o vi d -1 9 tt eeiiss ** grianukttiiiinnffoo** spiaūrlton emr*yspta*rtr ne gelraysmt e* n * p a n d e mi c m a n a g e m e nt i n t h e Lit h u a ni a n ži ni as kl ai d os l ais v * p art n er yst * *r e g ul * p arli a m e nt. R el ati v el y m or e a p p e als t o h u m a n ži ni as kl ai d os t eis * *r e g ul * p art n er yst * ri g hts ar e r e c or d e d aft er t h e 2 0 2 0 p arli a m e nt ar y tSteias *mįb uslvoeikkoatn vose nacp*s a u * pp aarrtt nn eerr yysstt ** rsyašn*t y k * el e cti o ns t h a n b ef or e t h e m. F urt h er m or e, u nli k e as m e n * p art n er yst * p art n er yst * s ą v o k * b ef or e t h e el e cti o ns, t h e r uli n g m aj orit y w as m or e įt eis * p art n er yst * p art n er yst * s u d ar * u nit e d i n a p p e ali n g t o h u m a n ri g hts w hil e p art n er yst * ar s a nt u o k * p art n er yst * t eisi n * dis c ussi n g C O VI D -1 9 p a n d e mi c m a n a g e m e nt pdiasrktunseijr*ysat p*ifeorp amrt*n er yst * *s ąprviloykg*i np*arptanretrnyesrty*st * m e as ur es or r e vi e wi n g a n d a d o pti n g t h e f a kti n * p art n er yst * p art n er yst * užti kri ni m * a p pr o a c h es t o mi gr ati o n crisis m a n a g e m e nt. *r e gistr * p art n er yst * įt eisi n * p art n er yst * I nt er esti n gl y, s o ci al d e m o cr ats ( L S D P) w er e n ot a Apsatretrinsekriynsste*argcyhvteenr *ms r ef ers t o st e m m*egdalpvatot*eranpsi. e p art n er yst * t h e m ost ar d e nt a d v o c at es of h u m a n ri g hts i n t h e S ei m as, t h o u g h t his t o pi c is us u all y at t h e f or efr o nt of s o ci al d e m o cr ati c i d e ol o g y p arti es 4. R e s ult s ar o u n d t h e w orl d [ 3 0].
O v er all, t h es e r es ults cl e arl y i n di c at e t h at
L y er [ 1 6] m ai nt ai ns t h at p ar li a m e nts f o c usi n g e v e nts m o bili z e d all p arti es i n a d o pti n g u nr e as o n a bl y ar e i g n or e d as h u m a n ri g hts pl a y ers, t h e r es ol uti o n c o n d e m ni n g fr a u dul e nt el e cti o ns i n B el ar us [ 3 1], w hi c h a d dr ess e d h u m a n ri g hts vi ol ati o ns t h er ei n a n d a p p e al e d t o h u m a n ri g hts o v er all i n t h e n ei g h b o uri n g c o u ntr y b y ur gi n g s a n cti o ns f or B el ar us r e gi m e’s pl a y ers a n d s u p p ort ers i n 2 0 2 0 (s e e p eri o d 0 8. 2 0 2 0 i n Fi g ur e 1) a n d al m ost u n a ni m o usl y s u p p orti n g m e as ur es t o c o p e wit h mi gr ati o n crisis [ 3 2] t h at w er e i n l ar g e p art r el at e d t o r e g ul ati n g t h e ri g hts of t h e mi gr a nts (s e e p eri o ds of 0 7. 2 0 2 1 a n d 1 0. 2 0 2 1 i n Fi g. 1). T h es e r es ults gi v e s u p p ort f or t h e ar g u m e nts of s c h ol ars c o nt e n d i n g t h at f o c usi n g e v e nts pr o d u c e c h a n g es i n p oliti c al a g e n d as.
F urt h er, gr e at er f o c us o n h u m a n ri g hts b y t h e r uli n g m aj orit y a n d m or e ri g or o us a cti vit y i n a p p e ali n g t o h u m a n ri g hts i n 2 0 2 1 mi g ht b e e x pl ai n e d b y t h e as c e nsi o n t o p o w er of li b er al p arti es, es p e ci all y t h e n e w li b er al p art y – t h e Fr e e d o m P art y. T h e y p ositi o n t h e ms el v es as p arti es t h at pr ot e ct h u m a n ri g hts a n d pr o m ot e h u m a n ri g hts a g e n d a. M or e o v er, h u m a n ri g hts iss u es w er e i n cl u d e d i n t h e Fr e e d o ms P art y’s pr o gr a m m e a n d w er e a d v o c at e d i n t h e a gr e e m e nt of t h e r uli n g m aj orit y. Alt h o u g h s o m e h u m a n ri g hts iss u es di d n ot a p p e ar o n t h e g o v er n m e nt’s a g e n d a, t h e y w er e i n cl u d e d i nt o t h e r uli n g m aj orit y’s a gr e e m e nt a n d h a v e b e e n a gr e e d t o b e s u p p ort e d b y t h e li b er al wi n g of t h e l ar g est r uli n g p art y – t h e H o mel a n d U ni o n. I m p ort a ntl y, t h es e d e v el o p m e nts h a d cl e ar i m p a ct o n t h e p oliti c al att e nti o n i n t h e S ei m as d e b at es. W e c a n cl e arl y s e e t h at r e pr es e nt ati v es of t h e Fr e e d o m P art y w er e Fi g ur e 1 : E x a m pl e fi g ur e A p p e als t o h u m a n ri g hts i n Lit h u a ni a n P arli a m e nt i n 2 0 2 0-2 0 2 1 ( a n d still ar e) t h e m ost ar d e nt s u p p ort ers of h u m a n ri g hts t o pi cs aft er t h e 2 02 0 el e cti o ns ( e x c e pt f or p eri o ds of 0 4. 2 0 2 1, 0 5. 2 0 2 1, a n d 0 8. 2 0 2 1, s e e Fi g ur e 1). T h es e fi n di n gs gi v e s u p p ort f or t h e t h e ori es of c h a n gi n g str u ct ur e of p art y iss u e c o m p etiti o n t h at is pr o d u c e d b y s o ci et al c h a n g es as r efl e ct e d i n s hifti n g p u bli c p oliti c al pri oriti es. 5. C o n cl u si o n s
T h e a n al ysis of t h e S ei m as d e b at es tr a ns cri pts r e v e al e d t h at f o c usi n g e v e nts ar e a cl e ar s o ur c e of c h a n g es of p oliti c al a g e n d a. Att e nti o n t o t h e t o pi c of h u m a n ri g hts d uri n g t h e a n al ys e d p eri o d of 2 0 2 0 -2 0 2 1 i n cr e as e d c o nsi d er a bl y w h e n t w o f o c usi n g e v e nts – fr a u d ul e nt el e cti o ns i n B el ar us i n 2 0 2 0 a n d t h e i nfl u x of mi gr a nts fr o m B el ar us t o Lit h u a ni a i n 2 0 2 1 – t o o k pl a c e a n d b e c a m e t h e f o c us of p u bli c d e b at es. T his w as cl e arl y r el at e d t o t h e n at ur e of t h es e e v e nts, as si z e a bl e s h ar e of t h e dis c ussi o ns i n t h e P arli a m e nt w as d e v ot e d t o s ol vi n g or pr o m oti n g v ari o us h u m a n ri g hts iss u es.
T h e r es ults of t h e st u d y als o pr o vi d e s u p p ort f or t h e t h e or y of p art y iss u e c o m p etiti o n e v ol uti o n r es ulti n g fr o m s o ci et al c h a n g es a n d r efl e ct e d i n c h a n gi n g p oli ti c al pri oriti es. P u bli c v al u e ori e nt ati o ns c h a n g e a n d ( us u all y, n e w) p arti es gr a b o p p ort u niti es t o m o bilis e s u p p ort f or t h es e n e wl y e m er gi n g pri oriti es. R e pr es e nt ati v es of t h e Fr e e d o m P art y a d v o c at e d r a di c al c h a n g es i n p u bli c p oli c y r el at e d t o h u m a n ri g ht s d uri n g t h e 2 0 2 0 S ei m as el e cti o ns. I m p ort a ntl y, t h e t o pi c of h u m a n ri g hts st a y e d m ost pr o mi n e ntl y o n t h e a g e n d a of t his p art y i n t h e p arli a m e nt ar y d e b at es e v er aft er it b e c a m e a p art of t h e r uli n g m aj orit y.
T h er ef or e, w e c a n wit n ess a tr a nsf er of c h a n g es of s o ci et al pri oriti es i nt o t h e p oliti c al ar e n a a n d p art y a g e n d a.
T h es e r es ults, i n t ur n, s h o w e d t h at p arli a m e nt ar y d e b at es c or p or a c a n b e a us ef ul r es o ur c e f or t h e a n al ysis of p oliti c al a g e n d a c h a n g es a n d c h a n gi n g p att er ns of p oliti c al att e nti o n t o at l e a st s o m e t o pi cs. Als o, t h e y g a v e s u p p ort f or f urt h er us e of a tr a diti o n al di cti o n ar y b as e d c o m p ut eri z e d a p pr o a c h t o c o nt e nt a n al ysis f or st u d yi n g t o pi cs t h at c a n b e u n e q ui v o c all y d efi n e d a n d h a v e e asil y i d e ntifi a bl e v o c a b ul ari es (s u c h as t h e t o pi c of “ H u m a n ri g hts ” st u di e d i n t his p a p er). H o w e v er, t his st u d y w as li mit e d t o q u a ntit ati v e a n al ysis of g e n er al tr e n ds of “ h u m a n ri g hts ” dis c ussi o ns i n t h e S ei m as. F ut ur e w or k c o ul d als o e m pl o y q u alit ati v e dis c o urs e a n al ysis i n or d er t o i d e ntif y c h a n g es i n t h e p arli am e nt ar y a g e n d a m or e pr e cis el y a n d pr o vi d e m or e s p e cifi c e x pl a n ati o ns of t h es e c h a n g es. 6. A c k n o wl e d g e m e nt s
T his pr oj e ct h as r e c ei v e d f u n di n g fr o m t h e R es e ar c h C o u n cil of Lit h u a ni a ( L M T L T), a gr e e m e nt N o. P -MI P -2 0 -3 7 3. 7. R ef er e n c e s
[ 1] F. R. B a u m g art n er, C. Gr e e n -P e d ers e n, a n d B. D. J o n es, E ds. C o m p ar ati v e st u di es of p oli c y a g e n d as. N e w Y or k: R o utl e d g e, 2 0 0 8.
[ 2] C. Gr e e n -P e d ers e n a n d S. W al gr a v e, E ds.
A g e n d a s etti n g, p oli ci es, a n d p oliti c al s yst e ms: A c o m p ar ati v e a p pr o a c h. C hi c a g o: U ni v ersit y of C hi c a g o Pr ess, 2 0 1 4.
[ 3] F. R. B a u m g art n er, C. Br e u ni g, a n d G.
E mili a n o, E ds. C o m p ar ati v e p oli c y a g e n d as: T h e or y, t o ols, d at a. O xf or d: O U P, 2 0 1 9.
[ 4] K. Kri p p e n d orff, C o nt e nt a n al ysis. A n I ntr o d u cti o n t o its M et h o d ol o g y, 4t h e d. L o n d o n: S a g e, 2 0 1 8.
[ 5] K. M. Q ui n n, B. L. M o nr o e, M. C ol ar esi, M. H. Cr es pi n, a n d D. R. R a d e v, “ H o w t o a n al ys e p oliti c al att e nti o n wit h mi ni m al ass u m pti o ns a n d c osts, ” A m. J. P olit. S ci., v ol. 5 4, p p. 2 0 9 – 2 2 8, 2 0 1 0.
[ 6] J. B. Sl a pi n a n d S. -O. Pr o ks c h, “ W or ds as d at a: C o nt e nt a n al ysis i n l e gisl ati v e st u di es, ” i n T h e O xf or d H a n d b o o k of L e gisl ati v e St u di es, S. C O VI D -1 9 P a n d e mi c: A n al ysis of t h e S ei m as D e b at es Tr a ns cri pts, ” i n C E U R W or ks h o p Pr o c e e di n gs, V ol -2 9 1 5, 2 0 2 1, p p. 1 5 8 – 1 6 6.
[ 1 9] C. Gr e e n -P e d ers e n, “ T h e Gr o wi n g I m p ort a n c e of Iss u e C o m p etiti o n: T h e C h a n gi n g N at ur e of P art y C o m p etiti o n i n W est er n E ur o p e, ” P oliti c al St u d., v ol. 5 5( 3), p p. 6 0 7 – 6 2 8, 2 0 0 7.
[ 2 0] D. A ust e n -S mit h, “I nf or m ati o n Tr a ns missi o n i n D e b at e, ” A m. J. P olit. S ci., v ol. 3 4( 1), p p. 1 2 4 – 1 5 2, 1 9 9 0.
[ 2 1] J. B ar a, A. W e al e, a n d A. Bi c q u el et, “ A n al ysi n g P arli a m e nt ar y D e b at e wit h C o m p ut er Assist a n c e, ” S wiss P oliti c al S ci. R e v., v ol. 1 3( 4), p p. 5 7 7 – 6 0 5, 2 0 0 7.
[ 2 2] C. S c h o n h ar dt -B ail e y, “ T h e C o n gr essi o n al D e b at e o n P arti al -Birt h A b orti o n: C o nstit uti o n al Gr a vit as a n d M or al P assi o n, ” Br. J.
P oliti c al S ci., v ol. 3 8( 3), p p. 3 8 3 – 4 1 0, 2 0 0 8.
[ 2 3] A. W e al e, A. Bi c q u el et, a n d J. B ar a, “ D e b ati n g A b orti o n, D e li b er ati v e R e ci pr o cit y a n d P arli a m e nt ar y A d v o c a c y, ” P oliti c al St u d., v ol. 6 0( 3), p p. 6 4 3 – 6 6 7, 2 0 1 2.
[ 2 4] J. Gri m m er a n d B. M. St e w art, “ T e xt as d at a: T h e pr o mis e a n d pitf alls of a ut o m ati c c o nt e nt a n al ysis m et h o ds f or p oliti c al t e xts, ” P oliti c al A n al ysis, v ol. 2 1( 3), p p. 2 6 7 – 2 9 7, 2 0 1 3.
[ 2 5] D. Gr e e n e a n d J. P. Cr oss, “ E x pl ori n g t h e P oliti c al A g e n d a of t h e E ur o p e a n P arli a m e nt Usi n g a D y n a mi c T o pi c M o d eli n g A p pr o a c h, ” P oliti c al A n al., v ol. 2 5( 1), p p. 7 7 – 9 4, 2 0 1 7.
[ 2 6] E. d el G o b b o, S. F o nt a n ell a, A. S arr a, a n d L. F o nt a n ell a, “ E m er gi n g T o pi cs i n Br e xit D e b at e o n T witt er Ar o u n d t h e D e a dli n es: A Pr o b a bilisti c T o pi c M o d elli n g A p pr o a c h, ” S o c. I n di c. R es., v ol. 1 5 6, p p. 6 6 9 – 6 8 8, 2 0 2 1.
[ 2 7] A. St e v e ns a n d J. All e n -R o b erts o n, “ E n cr y pti n g h u m a n ri g hts: T h e i nt ert wi ni n g of r esist a nt v oi c es i n t h e U K st at e s ur v eill a n c e d e b at e, ” Bi g D at a S o c., v ol. 8( 1), p p. 1 – 1 5, 2 0 2 1.
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