Factors Affecting the Social and Cultural Adaptation of Migrants from Central Asia in the Ural Megalopolis

Abstract

The article presents the results of a sociological study conducted in October-December 2018 in Ekaterinburg. The subject of the study is the factors influencing the social and cultural adaptation of migrants from Central Asia in the Ural megalopolis. The sociological study was conducted using quantitative and qualitative strategies – the method of questionnaire survey (n = 400) and the method of in-depth interview (n = 10). The study revealed a new trend in the migrant environment of the Ural metropolis – the formation of ethnic establishment within the migrant community of the same nationality, which has a relatively high level of income, with a high probability of planning to stay in Russia and obtain citizenship. The author concludes about a new phenomenon in migrant communities – the interaction of migrants with their compatriots left in the country of origin through a social network. Social networks (Vkontakte, Facebook, etc.) are now beginning to replace Diaspora in solving the problems that arise in migrants community in their host culture, especially at the initial stage of their social and cultural adaptation, which indicates the weakening of Diaspora relations of migrants. Every third respondent pointed to this factor. At the same time, the interaction of migrants with their compatriots through the social network, solving problems through social networks, conversation and communication in the network in their native language hinder the social and cultural adaptation of the migrant in the host culture. The study finds out that for young people who came to the Urals from Central Asia it is more difficult to adapt to Russian culture. This is stipulated by the fact that the older generation migrants were socialized in the Soviet Union, learning Russian language, Russian culture, etc. Besides, the older generation does not see a significant difference between the two cultures. In this regard, it is easier for them to undergo social and cultural adaptation in Russia compared to young people. At the same time, the majority of migrants are young and middle-aged people. The study reveals the leading external (education; cultural environment of the host community; age of the migrant; presence / absence of citizenship, etc.) and internal (interest in Russian culture, motivation to move to Russia) factors that ambiguously affect the social and cultural adaptation of migrants from Central Asia in the Ural metropolis.