Htqe.2025.48

https://doi.org/10.22364/htqe.2025.48 | 673-682 | PDF

Systemic International Mobility in Secondary Education in Latvia from 1964 to 1985

Deniss Klukins¹
¹University of Latvia, Latvia

Abstract
This paper explores international mobility in Latvia from 1964 to 1985, focusing on the role of International Friendship Clubs as key instruments of Soviet-era educational internationalization. Using qualitative analysis of archival documents and quantitative culturomics analysis of newspaper articles, it examines how mobility was integrated into the education system and aligned with broader political and ideological objectives. While official cooperation with both Soviet and non-Soviet countries began in the 1950s, large-scale mobility only materialized following partial liberalization in the mid-1960s. International Friendship Clubs became prominent tools of cultural diplomacy, fostering youth exchanges, correspondence, and ideological education, albeit primarily within the Soviet bloc. Despite limited outbound travel opportunities, International Friendship Clubs symbolically promoted the Soviet image as a peaceful, cooperative power. In Latvia, International Friendship Clubs uniquely served to counter the influence of the Latvian diaspora abroad. Cross-border mobility was rare, with most exchanges taking place within Soviet republics under strict state security oversight. Students typically engaged in remote interactions such as letter and souvenir exchanges, while teacher mobility occurred only in structured, multi-professional delegations. Peaks in International Friendship Clubs media coverage, particularly in 1972 and 1982, coincided with key political events, underscoring the clubs’ role in state propaganda rather than reflecting genuine grassroots engagement. Overall, internationalization in education during this period was centrally managed, ideologically driven, and strategically employed to reinforce Soviet narratives both domestically and internationally.

Keywords: International Friendship Club, educational mobility, propaganda, intelligence service control, media coverage

In: Human, Technologies and Quality of Education, 2025. Proceedings of Scientific Papers = Cilvēks, tehnoloģijas un izglītības kvalitāte, 2025. Rakstu krājums.  Ed. L. Daniela. Riga: University of Latvia, 2025. 698 p.
ISBN 978-9934-36-461-7 
https://doi.org/10.22364/htqe.2025