Austrālijas latviešu kopienas sabiedriski politisko aktivitāšu noteicošie faktori 20. gs. (50. gadu beigas - 70. gadu vidus). (Latin)

Latvians were among the first immigrants who faced the new Australian immigration policy after World War II. Local citizens viewed the Latvian émigré as ìnew Australiansî who would be easily integrated in the stateís society. However, Latvians thought differently. They considered themselves political refugees who were forced to leave their fatherland. The entire Latvian exile community, from grass roots societies to global organizations, followed this world view when forming their social political ideals and method of activities. After reaching their new homes in countries such as the USA, Ca- nada, Australia, etc, the main objective of Latvian exile communities was their self-proclaimed struggle for the freedom of the Latvian nation and the restoration of independence for the Latvian state. The key factors for social and political activities for Latvian communities in exile from the late fifties to the seventies was against Soviet Unionís ideology of communism which was perceived as hostile to the Baltic citizens in the USSR and political emigr- ants in the West. In fact, the politically and numerically insignificant Latvian community in Australia had no serious influence on the politics of Western superpowers, and they could not facilitate the restoration of an independent Latvia. So the only measure available to the Latvians, was to remind and inform Western countries of the illegal annexation of the Baltic countries, and to maintain their position of Latvian de jure existence in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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