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Publications (7 of 7) Show all publications
Zalkalns, L. (2020). Brīvība kā trimdas sociāldemokrātu politiskā balss - pirmie gadi (1948-1954): īss ieskats: Brīvība (Freedom) as the political voice of Latvian Social Democrats in exile - the first years (1948-1954): a short insight. Akadēmiskā Dzīve (56), 71-79
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Brīvība kā trimdas sociāldemokrātu politiskā balss - pirmie gadi (1948-1954): īss ieskats: Brīvība (Freedom) as the political voice of Latvian Social Democrats in exile - the first years (1948-1954): a short insight
2020 (Latvian)In: Akadēmiskā Dzīve, ISSN 0516-3145, no 56, p. 71-79Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Brīvība (Freedom) as the political voice of Latvian Social Demoracts in exile, first years (1948-1954): a short insight

Brīvība (Freedom) was the monthly newsletter of the exile Latvian Social Demo­cratic Workers’ Party (LSDSP), a newsletter which was established in Sweden in 1945. At first Brīvība was published as an annual journal, with issues in 1948, 1949 and 1950. As the official voice of the party, it defended the view that the exile community should unite under the last speaker of the democratic Latvian parliament and that exiles should not follow the lead of the Latvian Ambassador in London, who had been assigned extra­ordinary powers in 1940 by the authoritarian Latvian government. LSDSP support for the “parliamentarians” and its progressive stand points on other political matters were not popular among the mainly conservative Latvian exiles. Moreover, the aggressive journalistic style of the first Brīvība issues was not helpful in attracting new party members or more subscribers. From July 1950 to the end of 1953, Brīvība was issued as an internal party newsletter. It also actively recruited party members among Latvian exile communities and sought to widen its readership. In 1954, Brīvība resu­med publication as a monthly newsletter. The newsletter presented typical social de­mocratic standpoints on global politics and uniquely LSDSP views on exile Latvian politics. However, the parliamentarian con­troversy was no longer at the forefront and the journalistic tone had mellowed. Almost at the same time, a major right­wing exile Latvian politician, Alfrēds Valdmanis, was sentenced by a Canadian court to four years’ imprisonment for fraud and extortion, which meant that the right­wing authoritarians in exile lost their leading figure. These may be some of the main factors why Brīvība succeeded in expanding its readership and was able to continue publication outside of Latvia until 1999, thereby retaining its importance in exile Latvian politics.

Keywords
Freedom, Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party, Latvians in Sweden, Bruno Kalnins, Brīvība, Latvijas Sociāldemokrātiskā strādnieku partija, LSDSP ĀK, latvieši Zviedrijā, Brūno Kalniņš
National Category
History
Research subject
History
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-189214 (URN)10.22364/adz.56.07 (DOI)
Available from: 2021-02-03 Created: 2021-02-03 Last updated: 2022-02-25Bibliographically approved
Zalkalns, L. (2018). Ievadvārdi. In: Eva Eglāja-Kristsone (Ed.), Nyet, Nyet, Soviet! stāsti par latviešu politiskajām demonstrācijām trimdā: (pp. 11-12). Rīga: "Latvieši pasaulē" Muzejs un pētniecības centrs
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Ievadvārdi
2018 (Latvian)In: Nyet, Nyet, Soviet! stāsti par latviešu politiskajām demonstrācijām trimdā / [ed] Eva Eglāja-Kristsone, Rīga: "Latvieši pasaulē" Muzejs un pētniecības centrs , 2018, p. 11-12Chapter in book (Other (popular science, discussion, etc.))
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Rīga: "Latvieši pasaulē" Muzejs un pētniecības centrs, 2018
Keywords
Cold War warriors, anti-Communism, Soviet Latvia, Latvian exiles, Latvian Western diaspora
National Category
History and Archaeology
Research subject
History
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-165170 (URN)978-9934-19-438-2 (ISBN)
Available from: 2019-01-22 Created: 2019-01-22 Last updated: 2022-02-26Bibliographically approved
Runcis, M. & Zalkalns, L. (2018). Women's Role in the Alternative Culture Movements in Soviet Latvia 1960-1990. In: Melanie Ilic (Ed.), The Palgrave handbook of women and gender in twentieth-century Russia and the Soviet Union: (pp. 365-380). London: Palgrave Macmillan
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Women's Role in the Alternative Culture Movements in Soviet Latvia 1960-1990
2018 (English)In: The Palgrave handbook of women and gender in twentieth-century Russia and the Soviet Union / [ed] Melanie Ilic, London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018, p. 365-380Chapter in book (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

This chapter explores Latvian women’s agency as identified by their participation in cultural and religious alternative movements, and how they experienced their agency. Two interviews are examined: the first provides an oral history that focuses less on the events narrated than on the meaning of memory and narrative. The second interview recounts the history of the events in the manner they are reconstructed by the narrator. Neither of the two women has interpreted her agency within these groups as in any way political. In both cases, the driving force was to improve and strengthen Latvian culture and identity and to maintain the dream of future Latvian independence.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018
Series
Palgrave Handbooks
Keywords
Soviet Union, Countercultures, Élites, Latvian identity, Religious dissent
National Category
History
Research subject
History
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-152159 (URN)10.1057/978-1-137-54905-1_24 (DOI)978-1-137-54904-4 (ISBN)978-1-137-54905-1 (ISBN)
Available from: 2018-01-26 Created: 2018-01-26 Last updated: 2023-03-06Bibliographically approved
Zalkalns, L. (2017). Dzimtenes Balss pielikumi. Jaunā Gaita, LXIV(291), 40-46
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Dzimtenes Balss pielikumi
2017 (Latvian)In: Jaunā Gaita, ISSN 0448-9179, Vol. LXIV, no 291, p. 40-46Article in journal (Other (popular science, discussion, etc.)) Published
Abstract [en]

Between 1955 and 1992, Latvians in the western exile received the propaganda publication "Dzimtenes Balss", which was written by and published by the Cultural Relations Committee in Riga, a KGB-front whose goal was to neutralize exile Latvian anti-Communistic activities. Beginning 1964, "Dzimtenes Balss" published a number of supplements that targeted exile Latvian activitists and organizations. The supplements, among them Svešuma Balss, Svešatnes Atspulgi, Latvia Today, et al, were published in Latvian and in English.

Keywords
propaganda, cultural relations, Soviet Latvia, exile Latvians, propaganda, kultūras sakari, Padomju Latvija
National Category
History
Research subject
History
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-158673 (URN)
Available from: 2018-08-13 Created: 2018-08-13 Last updated: 2022-02-26Bibliographically approved
Zalkalns, L. (2017). Uldis Ģērmanis un izdevniecība "Memento". In: Agris Auce, Jānis Amols (Ed.), Piemini Uldi Ģērmani!: Ulža Ģērmaņa piemiņas konference 2015. gada 3. oktobrī: Ulža Ģērmaņa 100. dzimšanas dienas rakstu krājums. Paper presented at Piemini Uldi Ģērmani! Vēsturnieka un rakstnieka Ulža Ģērmaņa 100 gadu jubilejas piemiņas konference, Riga, Latvia, 3 October, 2015 (pp. 59-65). Riga: Fraternitas Livonica Filistru biedrība
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Uldis Ģērmanis un izdevniecība "Memento"
2017 (Latvian)In: Piemini Uldi Ģērmani!: Ulža Ģērmaņa piemiņas konference 2015. gada 3. oktobrī: Ulža Ģērmaņa 100. dzimšanas dienas rakstu krājums / [ed] Agris Auce, Jānis Amols, Riga: Fraternitas Livonica Filistru biedrība , 2017, p. 59-65Conference paper, Published paper (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

A summary of historian, publicist, and author Uldis Ģērmanis' collaboration with publishing house "Memento". "Memento" was established in Stockholm 1961, by leading exile Latvian socialdemocrats. Between 1986 and 1998 "Memento" published eleven books authored by Uldis Ģērmanis.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Riga: Fraternitas Livonica Filistru biedrība, 2017
Keywords
Uldis Germanis, historians Latvia, historians Sweden, Uldis Ģērmanis, vēsturnieki Latvija, vēsturnieki Zviedrija
National Category
History
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-158694 (URN)978-9934-14-819-4 (ISBN)
Conference
Piemini Uldi Ģērmani! Vēsturnieka un rakstnieka Ulža Ģērmaņa 100 gadu jubilejas piemiņas konference, Riga, Latvia, 3 October, 2015
Available from: 2018-08-13 Created: 2018-08-13 Last updated: 2022-02-26Bibliographically approved
Zalkalns, L. (2016). Uldis Ģērmanis un izdevniecība "Memento". Jaunā Gaita, LXII(284), 53-55
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Uldis Ģērmanis un izdevniecība "Memento"
2016 (Latvian)In: Jaunā Gaita, ISSN 0448-9179, Vol. LXII, no 284, p. 53-55Article in journal (Other (popular science, discussion, etc.)) Published
Abstract [en]

A summary of historian, publicist, and author Uldis Ģērmanis' collaboration with publishing house "Memento". "Memento" was established in Stockholm 1961, by leading exile Latvian socialdemocrats. Between 1986 and 1998 "Memento" published eleven books authored by Uldis Ģērmanis.

Keywords
Uldis Germanis, historians Latvia, historians Sweden, Uldis Ģērmanis, vēsturnieki Latvija, vēsturnieki Zviedrija
National Category
History
Research subject
History
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-158701 (URN)
Available from: 2018-08-13 Created: 2018-08-13 Last updated: 2022-02-26Bibliographically approved
Zalkalns, L. (2014). Back to the Motherland: Repatriation and Latvian Émigrés 1955-1958. (Doctoral dissertation). Stockholm: Department of Baltic Languages, Finnish and German, Stockholm University
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Back to the Motherland: Repatriation and Latvian Émigrés 1955-1958
2014 (English)Doctoral thesis, monograph (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This thesis is about a remarkable experience lived through by Latvian émigrés in the mid-1950s. They were the targets of a Soviet repatriation campaign, operated by the KGB, which not only envisioned their repatriation to the Soviet Latvian homeland, but also anticipated the destruction of their émigré society as they knew it.

The purpose of this thesis is to portray and analyze this repatriation campaign and the émigré Latvian reactions to it. By looking at the activities of the Committee For Return to the Motherland in East Berlin, the contents of the Latvian language repatriation newspaper Par atgriešanos Dzimtenē (For Return to the Motherland), and the reactions to the campaign in contemporary émigré press, this study shows how highly developed strategies and tactics were implemented in order to elicit certain behaviors from émigrés, and how émigrés advanced their own counter-strategies to offset the effects of the campaign. More specifically, this study examines the standardized narratives in Par atgriešanos Dzimtenē that were meant for émigré self-identification and emulation.

This thesis proposes that the repatriation campaign was a highly complex Soviet propaganda effort. The publicly announced goal of repatriation included several parallel goals, aims, and purposes and encompassed many types of activities. Above all, deception was used to cover the actions undertaken against émigrés and to mislead host country governments and agencies. This thesis concludes that notwithstanding the Soviet superiority in organization and resources, a small, unprotected, and internally divided community could withstand the concerted efforts of Soviet propaganda if the group’s sense of mission was sufficiently strong and firm.

Abstract [sv]

Denna avhandling behandlar de lettiska flyktingarna från andra världskriget och deras erfarenheter av ofrivilliga kontakter med Sovjetlettland vid mitten av 1950-talet, då flyktingarna blev måltavla för en sovjetisk repatrieringskampanj. Målet för denna kampanj var repatriering, dvs att få flyktingarna att återvända till hemlandet, det av Sovjet ockuperade Lettland. Ett annat mål var att splittra flyktingarnas sammanhållning.

Avhandlingen beskriver och analyserar den sovjetiska repatrieringskampanjen och de lettiska flyktingarnas reaktioner. Studien bygger på källmaterial från kampanjverkamheten Committee For Return to the Motherland, som hade sin bas i Östberlin, samt från artiklar i den lettiskspråkiga tidskriften Par atgriešanos Dzimtenē (For Return to the Motherland) som riktade sig till de lettiska flyktingarna. Flyktingarnas reaktioner studeras genom en rad lettiska tidningar som utgavs i Väst. Min avhandling visar hur väl utvecklade strategier användes i syfte att framkalla önskade reaktioner från flyktingarna, samt vilka motåtgärder flyktingar själva utvecklade mot repatrieringskampanjen. Mer specifikt analyseras standardberättelser i Par atgriešanos Dzimtenē som var avsedda för flyktingarnas självidentifiering och igenkännande.

Avhandlingen pekar på att den sovjetiska repatrieringskampanjen var en mycket komplex propagandaverksamhet. Utöver det offentligt tillkännagivna kampanjmålet fanns flera parallella målsättningar och avsikter som omfattade en stor mängd skiftande aktiviteter. En strategi som användes aktivt var vilseledning, bl a för att dölja verksamheter riktade mot flyktingarna, och för att förvilla statsledningar och myndigheter i de nationer där flyktingarna vistades. Avhandlingens slutsats är att trots den sovjetiska överlägsenheten i organisation och resurser kunde en liten oförsvarad och inom sig splittrad lettisk gemenskap motstå de samordnade ansträngningar från den sovjetiska propagandan.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Baltic Languages, Finnish and German, Stockholm University, 2014. p. 261
Series
Stockholm studies in Baltic languages, ISSN 0281-5478 ; 8
Keywords
Repatriation, Cold War studies, emigration, Soviet foreign policy, Latvian émigrés, Latvian émigré press, Soviet propaganda, compatriots, KGB, Soviet espionage, displaced persons, political refugees, Soviet Amnesty decree, repatriering, Kalla kriget, emigration, sovjetisk utrikespolitik, lettiska emigranter, lettisk emigrantpress, sovjetisk propaganda, compatriots, KGB, sovjetiskt spionage, displaced persons (DPs), politiska flyktingar, sovjetisk amnestilag
National Category
History
Research subject
Baltic Languages
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-107674 (URN)978-91-7447-990-4 (ISBN)
Public defence
2014-10-24, hörsal 4, hus B, Universitetsvägen 10 B, Stockholm, 13:00 (Swedish)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2014-10-02 Created: 2014-09-23 Last updated: 2022-02-23Bibliographically approved
Organisations
Identifiers
ORCID iD: ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0002-3051-0445

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