„Vis gailiuos, kad per mažai keičiuos“ : Bronio Railos politinė veikla emigracijoje

Abstract

The Lithuanian public knows Bronys Raila best as a writer and journalist but he was also an active participant in émigré political and community life. In this article, basing ourselves on his texts, the memoirs of his ideological allies and opponents, and other archival material, we will endeavor to present his political views and discuss his participation, undetachable from his journalistic activities, in the political and community life of the diaspora. Upon leaving Lithuania Raila joined the Lithuanian Activist Front before asserting himself in the activities of liberal organizations (Lithuanian Freedom Fighters‘ Alliance, Foreign Delegation of the United Democratic Resistance Movement, Šviesa, the Resistance Union of Lithuanian, and others). He constantly immersed himself in the whirlwind of ideological battles, not so much through his actions as through his polemical writings in which he raised political questions and provoked and/or criticized his opponents. His texts served an important information- providing and discussion-stimulating function, forcing émigré society to stay continuously interested in diaspora politics.