Adaptation Practices of Persian Migrants in the North Caucasus (the Second Half of the XIX - the Beginning of the Twentieth Century)

Abstract

The study of the processes of adaptation of labor migrants in the modern world is actualized by the impact of active cross-border movements on the economy, culture, politics and interstate interaction. The study of the historical experience of the legal and economic aspects of the adaptation of Iranian migrants in the North Caucasus in the second half of the X1X - early XX century undertaken in this article significantly complements and corrects the known, but rather contradictory information about Iranian immigrants, and also makes a certain contribution to the theory of the life structure of the diaspora. The analysis of Russian laws regulating the life of foreigners in Russia and the peculiarities of their application in the North Caucasus, identified from archival sources, made it possible to study the adaptation practices of Persian migrants. Among Persian migrants, the vast majority crossed the border illegally, as the adjacent territory between the northern part of Iran and the southern borders of Russia, in particular, the Azerbaijani lands, for a long time remained accessible to residents of both countries. In this regard, the first adaptive practices of migrants were associated with shelter from Russian legislation. However, over time, the rules were tightened, and their non-implementation undermined the life of the migrant. The official registration of a residence permit, a “Russian ticket”, Russian citizenship, a voluntary change of the family name to the Russian manner, with the addition of the suffix “ov”, the election of intermediaries to interact with local authorities and other individual practices identified from archival sources, strengthened the social prestige of the migrant, necessary for the successful organization of entrepreneurial activity. The organization of ethnic entrepreneurship, the creation of jobs for compatriots, were the basis and guarantor of the success of the life of the Persian community. The status of a migrant was also enhanced by a noticeable participation in charitable activities aimed both at solving common problems and at helping the Persian community: the foundation of mosques, Persian schools and charitable societies, which together ensured both the preservation of identity and integration into the host society.