Public Communication of Soviet Lithuania Targeting the Lithuanian Diaspora in the USA: Channels of Spread and Distribution Mechanisms

This article examines the dissemination mechanisms and communication channels used by Soviet Lithuania to reach the Lithuanian diaspora in the United States. It focuses on the development and distribution of key propaganda tools aimed at the diaspora, including the periodicals Tėvynės balsas (renam...

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Main Author: Ina Ėmužienė
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Vilnius University Press 2025-06-01
Series:Lietuvos Istorijos Studijos
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.journals.vu.lt/lietuvos-istorijos-studijos/article/view/42407
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author Ina Ėmužienė
author_facet Ina Ėmužienė
author_sort Ina Ėmužienė
collection DOAJ
description This article examines the dissemination mechanisms and communication channels used by Soviet Lithuania to reach the Lithuanian diaspora in the United States. It focuses on the development and distribution of key propaganda tools aimed at the diaspora, including the periodicals Tėvynės balsas (renamed as Gimtasis kraštas in 1967), the domestic Soviet Lithuanian press, and foreign-directed radio broadcasts (LUL). The analysis centers on two primary channels of dissemination: first, these were Soviet Lithuanian institutions responsible for cultural relations with the diaspora, namely, the Committee for Repatriation and Cultural Relations with Compatriots Abroad (1955–1962), Lithuanian Committee for Cultural Relations with Compatriots Abroad (from 1963), and the “Tėviškė” Society (from 1976), which not only created propaganda material but also distributed it and managed diaspora subscriptions to internal Soviet publications; second, the bookstores operating in the U.S., which distributed Soviet literature and press were also used. The article also outlines the main target audiences of these efforts: the anti-communist diaspora (the so-called ‘dipukai’) and the pro-Communists, i.e., the so-called ‘progressives’.
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spelling doaj-art-3aa0d9c8a19b421f94090ce4ef4fe68a2025-08-20T02:36:30ZengVilnius University PressLietuvos Istorijos Studijos1392-04481648-91012025-06-015510.15388/LIS.2025.55.4Public Communication of Soviet Lithuania Targeting the Lithuanian Diaspora in the USA: Channels of Spread and Distribution MechanismsIna Ėmužienė0Vilnius University, Lithuania This article examines the dissemination mechanisms and communication channels used by Soviet Lithuania to reach the Lithuanian diaspora in the United States. It focuses on the development and distribution of key propaganda tools aimed at the diaspora, including the periodicals Tėvynės balsas (renamed as Gimtasis kraštas in 1967), the domestic Soviet Lithuanian press, and foreign-directed radio broadcasts (LUL). The analysis centers on two primary channels of dissemination: first, these were Soviet Lithuanian institutions responsible for cultural relations with the diaspora, namely, the Committee for Repatriation and Cultural Relations with Compatriots Abroad (1955–1962), Lithuanian Committee for Cultural Relations with Compatriots Abroad (from 1963), and the “Tėviškė” Society (from 1976), which not only created propaganda material but also distributed it and managed diaspora subscriptions to internal Soviet publications; second, the bookstores operating in the U.S., which distributed Soviet literature and press were also used. The article also outlines the main target audiences of these efforts: the anti-communist diaspora (the so-called ‘dipukai’) and the pro-Communists, i.e., the so-called ‘progressives’. https://www.journals.vu.lt/lietuvos-istorijos-studijos/article/view/42407AmericaUSAUSSRSoviet Lithuaniapropagandapropaganda distribution
spellingShingle Ina Ėmužienė
Public Communication of Soviet Lithuania Targeting the Lithuanian Diaspora in the USA: Channels of Spread and Distribution Mechanisms
Lietuvos Istorijos Studijos
America
USA
USSR
Soviet Lithuania
propaganda
propaganda distribution
title Public Communication of Soviet Lithuania Targeting the Lithuanian Diaspora in the USA: Channels of Spread and Distribution Mechanisms
title_full Public Communication of Soviet Lithuania Targeting the Lithuanian Diaspora in the USA: Channels of Spread and Distribution Mechanisms
title_fullStr Public Communication of Soviet Lithuania Targeting the Lithuanian Diaspora in the USA: Channels of Spread and Distribution Mechanisms
title_full_unstemmed Public Communication of Soviet Lithuania Targeting the Lithuanian Diaspora in the USA: Channels of Spread and Distribution Mechanisms
title_short Public Communication of Soviet Lithuania Targeting the Lithuanian Diaspora in the USA: Channels of Spread and Distribution Mechanisms
title_sort public communication of soviet lithuania targeting the lithuanian diaspora in the usa channels of spread and distribution mechanisms
topic America
USA
USSR
Soviet Lithuania
propaganda
propaganda distribution
url https://www.journals.vu.lt/lietuvos-istorijos-studijos/article/view/42407
work_keys_str_mv AT inaemuziene publiccommunicationofsovietlithuaniatargetingthelithuaniandiasporaintheusachannelsofspreadanddistributionmechanisms