MULTICULTURALISM TRENDS IN MODERN LITHUANIA: PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES

Multiculturalism has significantly progressed over the last decade in Lithuania after the country joined European Union. The authors analyze the literature and country's situation of multiculturalism and intercultural communication topics; examine the challenges posed by the phenomenon to Lithuanian society. The survey was conducted to find out the opinion of the citizens of modern multicultural environment peculiarities in the country. The research made in Lithuania on this topic is short in order to fully assess the current situation, so the authors want to find out the general multiculturalism concept and its development trends in recent time. Main respondents were the young and middle-aged residents of the city, of which more than 40 percent have higher education. The survey results reflect the respondents' attitudes towards multiculturalism, demonstrates the limits of their tolerance to foreigners, the challenges they face in communicating with each other with different cultures. Conclusions provide insights and recommendations on what measures can be used for promoting tolerance to other cultures in the Lithuanian society and achieving most effective integration of representatives of different cultures into the public life of the country.