In January 2026, three postdoctoral fellows joined the V. Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute at Vytautas Magnus University, where they will conduct research into current societal challenges. These fellowships are funded by the Research Council of Lithuania. The fellowships will run until December 2027.
The Military and “Soft Masculinity” in Contemporary Society
Dr. Paulius Balsys, who has joined the V. Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute, will investigate the interaction between changing contemporary concepts of masculinity and military institutions, and the impact this has on the formation of military identity. During his postdoctoral fellowship, he will examine how evolving notions of masculinity intersect with military institutions and the challenges that the army faces in integrating universal conscription into contemporary society.
Society often perceives the military as one of the most prominent institutions representing traditional, “tough” masculinity. However, changing norms of masculinity and sociocultural trends in Western democratic societies suggest that the military is facing mounting social challenges in attracting and retaining modern individuals. There is an increasing body of research emphasising that the relationship between Generation Z men and traditional forms of masculinity is moving away from “tough” models of expression and towards so-called soft masculinity.
The study will take a broad methodological approach, incorporating qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews and focus groups, as well as quantitative methods like surveys.
The postdoctoral internship supervisor is Prof. Dr. Artūras Tereškinas.
Forgiveness as a Moral Decision and Political Action
Dr. Simona Merkinaitė, a postdoctoral fellow at the V. Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute, will conduct research into the phenomenological conceptualisation of forgiveness as a moral decision and political action, based on the philosophies of Hannah Arendt and Paul Ricoeur. The study analyses forgiveness as both a personal virtue and an expression of human freedom and political subjectivity, capable of liberating individuals from the cycle of revenge. It will explore how forgiveness can liberate individuals from the cycle of revenge and enable reconciliation.
In the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, dilemmas of political and moral philosophy are particularly pertinent, including the question of whether forgiveness is possible and what the alternatives are. This question is also relevant in European political discourse, where social divisions are deepening and the manipulation of historical traumas and truth is becoming increasingly commonplace.
From a practical point of view, the research will contribute to a broader discussion on the relationship between politics and morality in Western societies and philosophy by questioning the tendency to separate the private and political dimensions of human beings.
The postdoctoral internship supervisor is Prof. Dr. Dalius Jonkus.
High Conflict Divorce Resolution
Dr. Lina Butkutė – Van de Voort, who has joined the V. Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute, will analyse how institutional employees experience and practically resolve protracted, highly conflictual divorces involving minor children in her postdoctoral research. While approximately 10–25% of divorces involve protracted and difficult-to-resolve conflicts, scientific research has primarily focused on the psychological and social consequences of divorce for children.
While these conflicts are common, the experiences of professionals who deal with the complexity of these processes on a daily basis have been less explored. This project aims to address this gap by examining the practices and interactions of institutional staff.
The study’s novelty lies in its interdisciplinary approach, combining legal, psychological, and organisational aspects. The results of the study are expected to contribute to the development of science-based institutional changes and help reduce the psychological, social and economic impact of high-conflict divorces on society.
Prof. Dr. Aušra Maslauskaitė is the supervisor of the postdoctoral internship.
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