Latviešu izceļošana uz Brazīliju: cēloņi un ideoloģija
Latvian Emigration to Brazil: Causes and Ideology

Summary/Abstract: Latvian emigration to Brazil is the most documented and well-known emigration of inhabitants of Latvia that is dominated by religious motives. At the beginning of 20-ies of 20th century more then 2500 persons left Latvia to start new life in Latin America. Most but not all of them were Baptists. This fact damaged public image of Baptist movement and weakened many local churches. Author of this article has analyzed the following causes of emigration: (1) economical and political factors linked with post-war crisis and instability; (2) personal interests of some of emigration leaders like Jānis Iņkis; (3) religious motives – thrive for emigration developed out of the most radical wing of revivalist movement which spread among Baptist churches in Latvia shortly after the First World War. In general emigration to Brazil forms an interesting part of the history of Latvia, which so far is not well researched because of dominance of traditional historicism interested in historical ‘grand canons.’ Eschatological problematic closely associated with such emigration movements is continuing to produce variety of responses among theologians but because of anxiety and alienation in society always will exist need for utopian dreams of “promised land.”

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