Russian Migrants Research Articles

Economic Ties of Russian Settlers and Native Population of Turkestan in the end of the 19th – the beginning of the 20th Centuries

The article analyses the issues of reclaiming of Turkestan by the Russian empire in the second half of the 19th – the beginning of the 20th century by means of creating in the region administrative and military structures as well as by organizing Russian migrant settlements. It was revealed that in the process of organization of urban and rural settlements Turkestan authorities took aim at keeping a distance between native and migrant population. The article characterizes the conditions of granting land parcels for Russian settlers, the different categories and the number of countrymen coming to Turkestan. The article demonstrates various forms of economic interaction of settlers and native people in agricultural activities, everyday life, etc. An accent is put on the changes in the organization of living space under the influence of Turkestan climate peculiarities, different methods of managing agricultural food crops and commercial crops (cotton); the issues of irrigational activities, adoption of farm equipment and particular aspects of everyday life are being analyzed. The author makes a note that the interaction mostly took place in the economic and material spheres, and had fragmentary and episodic character that didn’t lead to cardinal changes in the life of Russian settlers’ community and native people.

Study of the value sphere of migrants from Central Asia as a factor of socio-psychological adaptation

The key direction of the state national policy of the Russian Federation is the successful social and cultural adaptation of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation, and their integration into Russian society. The article presents the results of a study of the value sphere of personality of young migrants from Central Asian countries. Both personal values and cultural values have been studied. The methodological framework of the study was the theoretical approach to the study of values by S. Schwartz and the cross-cultural approach to the study of the characteristics of different cultures by G. Hofstede. A comparative analysis of the value profiles of Russian youth and migrants from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan was carried out. The empirical study found that the dominant values of young migrants are: kindness, safety, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation. When comparing the values of individual values, it was found that among young migrants all values are more pronounced than among young people from Russia. Comparing cultural values, it was found that uncertainty avoidance and masculinity among young migrants are lower than among young people from Russia. Taking into account these features of the value sphere of Central Asian migrants, as well as their connection with psychological acculturation strategies, the authors come to the conclusion that it is necessary to take into account the specifics of the value profile of migrants as a factor of psychological adaptation when providing socio-psychological assistance.

Marked on the voice: the visibility experiences of Russian heritage migrants following the war against Ukraine

Abstract Identities fundamental to the self, such as race and gender, can operate through visual markers on the body. Identities related to a person’s heritage, or nationality, can also become visible. However, when physical appearance means that a person can pass as a member of a dominant group, being identified or ‘marked’ as other takes place through language use. In migration contexts, situations where a person’s heritage or nationality is revealed can lead to experiences of vulnerability. This study investigated the experiences of five Russian-speaking women living in Sweden whose migrant backgrounds were not visibly noticeable, up until the point that interaction was initiated. Interviews were carried out in the summer of 2022 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Data was analysed using a double hermeneutic approach. Findings revealed how, following the outbreak of the war, the fear of becoming visible increased. Fears of exposure triggered vigilant behaviours, and an experience of needing to regulate visibility. Results show how the experience of having situational control over visibility could buffer against emotional pain caused by perceptions of negative positionings, and the risk of prejudicial treatment.

New Russian migrants in Estonia: performative agency in insecure times

ABSTRACT The object of this study is a new Russian migrant community in Estonia, a relatively small group of Russian citizens who escaped their home country after the resumption of the mass-scale attack against Ukraine. The author seeks to identify major narratives produced the anti-Putin Russian migrants settled in Estonia and unveil their political meanings. The article discusses how these narratives are communicated, what audiences they appeal to, and how the agency of the new Russian community in this Baltic state is discursively constructed. The author explains how Russia-centric narratives of emigrants are transformed and adjusted to Estonian and - in a broader sense - European political agenda.

Mainstream acculturation in superdiverse settings: The beneficial role of intergroup contact with ‘other‐cultures’ individuals

AbstractThis work focuses on migrants’ ‘other‐cultures’ intergroup contact – contact with individuals belonging to neither their heritage ingroup nor the mainstream outgroup. We test the overarching hypothesis that other‐cultures contact is positively associated with mainstream acculturation, especially when contact in the mainstream group is scarce. Study 1 results show that frequent other‐cultures contact is positively associated with mainstream identification among Maghrebi migrants to Quebec. This effect is stronger for participants with infrequent, versus frequent, mainstream contact. In Study 2, conducted among Russian migrants to Canada, having more other‐cultures friends is positively related to mainstream acculturation only for participants with few mainstream friends. Further, the entry of other‐cultures friends into migrants’ network takes place later than heritage friends but earlier than mainstream friends. The current work expands the traditional mainstream–heritage acculturation framework by moving away from binary conceptualizations of intergroup relations and considering other‐cultures contact in superdiverse contexts.

Life in Motion: Mobility and Identity among Russian Migrants in the South Caucasus

The South Caucasus has emerged as a prominent destination for migrants from Russia following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The essay highlights both the complex and heterogeneous nature of current migration from Russia to the South Caucasus and the challenges inherent in categorizing and grouping diverse migrant communities. Describing the identity of migrants, we focus on the actual moment of moving from Russia to Armenia or Georgia, living in these countries, and the panorama of staying, returning, or leaving for a third place. Many people from the current wave of migration are engaged in remote work, primarily in the IT sector, and have a relatively high income compared to the host community.This trend to seek temporary residence in countries with milder climates and lower living costs, combined with remote work opportunities, is shared by lifestyle migrants, winter tourists, digital nomads, and Russians who fled in 2022. Looking at such new types of migration, researchers have criticized the privilege and inequality of this lifestyle, as well as their weak involvement in the local agenda. However, it is noteworthy that these communities of migrants are characterized by practices of mutual assistance and a commitment to ecological values, which in turn foster attention to the local environment. The essay describes volunteer practices and explores the concept of disengagement from civic life inherent in lifestyle migration or nomadism. Text in English

Colonization of the Russian-Chinese Frontier and Borderland in Contemporary Studies

The history of the Asia is one of the most topical areas of foreign historiography. Over the last three centuries Asia has undergone enormous and far-reaching changes: colonization, wars, revolutions, occupation, and industrialization. Authors are increasingly turning to the study of various aspects of the economic, political and social history of certain countries, as well as making a broader analysis of regional problems. For Russian historiography, the works on the Russian-Chinese frontier and frontiers are of the greatest interest. The transition to the modern image of border regions is largely attributed to the advent of the period of imperialism. The key argument is that from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century, systemic migration factors were favorable for the influx of Chinese and Russian migrants to the border regions. Negative political influences at crucial moments often outweighed these systemic advantages and prevented the formation of stable communities. We note the series of books by Routledge Publishers on the New Asian History, separate monographs already translated into Russian on this topic. The article focuses on two new works — S. Urbanski’s book, which conceptualizes the space of the Russian-Chinese borderland and frontier, and a collective work by the University of Belfast, published in 2023 as a result of an international research project. This article pays particular attention to the so-called imperial period, which laid the foundations for the more rigid politics of the twentieth century. The economics of imperialism in the frontier would play a less significant role than the traditional trade relations, economic systems established in previous eras.

Exit to Feel, Voice, and Act: Emotions and Actions of Russian Migrants Opposing the Invasion of Ukraine

Previous research has shown that those identifying with the perpetrator group experience emotions, such as guilt, shame, and anger. These emotions have also motivated people to confront the authorities and support the victims. Recent Russian legislation restricts such actions, and also the expression of individual emotions and attitudes. This study (n = 533) examined the emotional state and the actions of Russian migrants, and the relationships of these emotions with the actions. The results showed that migration enabled the actions prohibited in Russia and that emotions contributed to these actions, although the correlation was weak. This study improves our understanding of the perpetrators’ emotions, and how these emotions motivate human activity under real-world conditions of highly repressive legislation.

Понятие интеграция мигрантов в российских концепциях миграционной политики: к вопросу о концептуальных основах

Attempts to conceptualize the integration of migrants in society regularly face criticism within the academic community; the term integration does not have a generally accepted definition. The article offers an analysis of Russian migrants integration policy. The purpose of the study is to clarify the meaning of the term integration, as well as to compare integration theories with practical measures of immigrant integration. The authors define the concept of integration, explore its conceptual foundations, and shed light on some contradictions of its use in political discourse and scientific literature. The concept of integration is defined as the inclusion of an individual in a certain host community’s social ties structure. Using the content analysis method, the article considers the place of integration concept in the fundamental documents of the Russian immigration policy. The authors conclude that the Russian integration policy has its faults. There is a gap between the integration policy and the realities of the migrants' existence, which prevents the effective inclusion of migrants in Russian society. Solving the problem requires close cooperation between various actors of migration policy, including non-profit civil organizations.

Personal crisis as a catalyser in a Movement Continuum of tourism lifestyle mobilities

Various professional, economic, and personal reasons underpin current migration flows. This article integrated the concepts of lifestyle travelling and lifestyle migration by bringing the tourism-migration nexus to the fore to analyse lifestyle issues of individuals that impact their decisions to be mobile. Sixteen in-depth semi-structured interviews with young Russian migrants, a ‘modern’ population with different perspectives about opportunities to travel and migrate than their USSR predecessors, were conducted with a focus on their life experiences, mobility ‘careers’ and starting points of migration. Thematic analysis and iterative engagement with data led to the creation of the Movement Continuum. This Movement Continuum connects different stages of movement ranging from the first trip, long-term travelling, permanent migration, and the final decision to settle down. The paper suggests the continued need for a better understanding of the importance of lifestyle in mobility and migration journeys. It identifies those moments of crisis in the mobility and migration journey that affect an individual’s intentions to stay on the move and/or to migrate. The findings complement discourses around the role of personal crisis in migration, mobilities, and tourism and highlight the necessity for further research regarding the better exploration of the relationship between lifestyle travel and lifestyle migration in tourism geographies.

ASSESSING THE VALUE CHAIN IMPACTS OFTHEUKRAINEWARONTHETOURISMOF THE UKRAINE WAR ON THE TOURISM INDUSTRYOFGEORGIA

This paper explores the eff ects of the Ukraine confl ict on Georgia's tourism industry and its implica-Ɵ ons through a value chain analysis. The study examines various perspecƟ ves, including the eff ects of the war on Georgian tourism with and without migraƟ on and the subsequent eff ect of migraƟ on on the country's economy. The paper highlights the economic and safety-related eff ects that led to a slow recovery of visitors aŌ er the war. AddiƟ onally, the paper discusses the posiƟ ve impact of migraƟ on on future tourism fl ows, sƟ mulaƟ ng domesƟ c tourism and regional exploraƟ on. However, the infl ux of Russian migrants also increased short-term accommoda-Ɵ on rental prices, aff ecƟ ng vulnerable groups and potenƟ ally contribuƟ ng to inequality and poverty. Furthermore, the paper addresses the global implicaƟ ons of the Ukraine confl ict on internaƟ onal tourism, with Georgia being vulnerable due to its dependence on Russian tourists. The analysis also idenƟ fi es key fi ndings regarding the ef-fects of Russian migrants on various agents within the tourism value chain, including travel agencies, internaƟ onal transportaƟ on, accommodaƟ on, food and beverage, local transportaƟ on, culture, sports, recreaƟ on, and tour-ism-related products. The study concludes by outlining potenƟ al soluƟ ons to miƟ gate the negaƟ ve impact of the confl ict on Georgia's tourism industry, such as markeƟ ng campaigns, introducing new and more aff ordable fl ights, economy-related incenƟ ves, and improvements in service quality. This paper provides a comprehensive evaluaƟ on that off ers valuable insights into the complex impacts of the Ukraine confl ict on Georgia's tourism industry and its broader signifi cance for the global tourism economy.

Capitalising Precarity: Wellbeing of Migrants in Russia

Abstract This paper aims to introduce the concept of capitalising precarity to analyse the situation of precarious migration in migrant unfriendly contexts such as Russia. The material analysed in this paper concerns welfare and health inequalities in Russia. Welfare of labour migrants in Russia (both for internal Russian migrants and for foreign migrants) is de facto non-existent and largely self-organised by migrants themselves. State migration policies of Russia as well as welfare policies in the destination countries (Central Asia) are formulated in papers but in practice do not function to ensure some kind of wellbeing and social protection. Working conditions both at home (in Central Asia) and in destination countries (Russia and Kazakhstan) do not comply with average requirements of wellbeing of workers. I was shocked but not surprised to see Central Asian migrant workers in winter cleaning the roofs of Russian houses without any protection. The paper analyses the situation of intermixing of legal and informal practices which have a direct implication for wellbeing of migrants in Russia. The working conditions in Russia for both migrant and non-migrant labour violate basic principles of human rights. The paper also shows that even citizenship does not automatically provide direct access to social welfare where the latter is bound to the permanent registration (propiska). Continuous precarity is capital for other actors such as those who can profit from it such as police officers or other migrants themselves. The findings of this research contribute to the broader literature of labour and welfare in terms challenging the boundaries between citizenship and mobility.

"Living in limbo": Digital narratives of migrants fleeing Russia after the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine more than one million Russian citizens have left Russia. This Russian migration is a political protest against Vladimir Putin’s regime — people are leaving due to their opposition to the war, persecution by authorities, and fear of mobilization — and are writing about this migration online. Despite fulfilling the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951 Refugee Convention or the Geneva Convention of 28 July 1951) conditions, these Russian migrants have not yet received international recognition, and most live in total uncertainty in poor countries in the South Caucasus and Central Asia with temporary visas and no possibility of entering Europe. This paper has two purposes. The first is to describe this group of migrants that challenges the definition of who is a refugee, in the context of this specific military conflict. The second purpose is to examine digital narratives published by these Russian migrants, characterized by a sense of living in uncertainty.

Migranter der blev aktivister: Prodemokratisk mobilisering blandt russiske migranter i Danmark og Norge

Abstract: Migrants turned activists: Pro-democratic mobilisation amongst Russian migrants in Denmark and NorwayThis article explores how emotions and group solidarity influence collective action. Through case study of Russian migrants’ engagement in pro-democratic transnational activism in Denmark and Norway, this article contributes to our understanding of emotions and their role in mobilising and demobilising collective action. The study is based on ethnographic research material consisting of semi-structured individual interviews with Russian activists in Norway (4) and Denmark (7). The analysis show that the role of emotions is two-fold. On the one hand, mobilising emotions, moral shock, and in-group interactions can increase group solidarities and recurring participation. The findings suggest that participation in transnational activism can be considered a strategy that helps the activists cope with sudden and traumatic political developments in their homeland. Interestingly, the study suggests that even emotions usually considered demobilising, such as fear, have the potential to strengthen group solidarity and thereby act as a mobilising factor. On the other hand, demobilising emotions and threats can weaken in-group dynamics and lead to demobilisation.

Russian imprint in the peculiar mosaic of Argentine identity

The article deals with the impact of the Russian immigration and the activities undertaken by the Russian Orthodox Church on the Argentine Republic. The aim of the article is to assess the contribution made by the Russian migrants to the formation and history of the Argentine nation. From 1881 to 1914, more than 4.2 million migrants moved to Argentina, with the Russians being the fourth largest group. By 1914, the migrants accounted for 30% of the population (3.9% were Russians); thus, Argentina was developing as a country of immigration. Today, by contrast, Argentina is becoming a country of emigration, as there is a worrying human capital outflow. Therefore, it is useful to recall and evaluate the positive potential of the Russian migration to Argentina. The methodological basis of the article comprises the induction, the logical intuitive method, the method of periodization, the historical interpretative method and the institutional approach. The article examines Argentina’s policy of attracting migrants, its reasons and the response to this policy in the form of six waves of migration from Russia to Argentina. It analyses the contribution of the representatives of the waves to the industrial and intellectual areas in Argentina, and the impact of the immigration flows on the country’s identity. It also considers the historical and contemporary influence of the Russian Orthodox Church on the Argentine religious field. It is concluded that the Russian migration contributed to the development of the Argentine rural and urban areas, culture and science, as well as reinforced Argentina’s identity as a multi-ethnic and multicultural, arrogant and self-critical country. The Russian Orthodox Church historically has been the centre of the Russian diaspora´s cultural life in Argentina, and at present it has undertaken numerous cultural and religious initiatives facilitating the intercultural dialogue.

Big cities of Russia and their suburbs as centers of attraction of internal migrants

Big cities and their suburbs are the main centers of attraction for internal Russian migrants, pulling the population from peripheral territories. Based on detailed data on internal Russian migration for 2011-2020. the scale of net migration is estimated in Moscow, St. Petersburg and five groups of cities with a population of 100 thousand inhabitants or more, and their suburbs. The size of the suburbs depends on the population of the cities - the larger it is, the greater the distance the cities extend their influence and, accordingly, the greater the radius of the allocation of suburbs. The number of inhabitants of cities and their suburbs is determined on the basis of the 2010 population census data, based on the distance from the city center, near, middle and far suburbs are distinguished. It is estimated that 89.6 million people lived in major cities and their suburbs (2010). The process of population concentration continued. The migration growth of Big cities and their suburbs is comparable in size, and suburbs are significantly larger in intensity than cities. The suburbs of regional capitals and largest cities have the most intensive migration growth. The nearest suburbs of cities grow most intensively due to migration. Every year, Big cities lose 40-50 thousand people in migration with their suburbs. We are not inclined to consider this evidence of the process of suburbanization, the main role is played by the sprawl of cities and the attractiveness of living in the maximum transport accessibility to their centers. Migration in the suburbs that are formed near Moscow and St. Petersburg deserves further study.

Wokół dziennika podróży ekoteolożki Tatiany Goriczewej „Człowiek ustawicznie szuka szczęścia”

On “Man ceaselessly seeks happiness”, a travel diary of an eco-theologian Tatiana Goricheva The author faces the main task of a comprehensive – to its possible extent – overview of Man ceaselessly seeks happiness. He approaches the text from the perspective of its genre and the subject matter. By taking into consideration the main thought behind the title of the book, he examines what the search for happiness means to the writer. The notions of poetics intersect with remarks on the essay-like narration of the diary, in which the writer shares her thoughts on religions and cultures of the West, the East, South Asia, Russian migrants scattered around the world, the contemporary state of the Church and Christians in Europe and outside it, individual and collective ways of searching for God or human approach towards animals. The author reaches a conclusion that “Man ceaselessly seeks happiness” is not a traditional travel diary and Tatiana Goricheva’s musings present a deeply individual outlook on the notions of Christianity and faith.

Emigration of russian pensioners to Vietnam (and other countries of Southeast Asia)

This article analyzes the migration of elderly Russians to Vietnam (in comparison with other countries in Southeast Asia). The migration of the social group takes place against the background of a change in the age structure of the population in Russia and the world, which implies a greater activity of the older generation, including in the context of migration. The paper highlights various factors of migration in old age: demographic, social, economic, regional-climatic. Official statistics allow us to describe the growing emigration of the Russian older generation to Vietnam, where 318 senior citizens officially emigrated in 2011-2021. It is noted that during the pandemic, Vietnam turned out to be an attractive place for elderly Russian migrants. State statistics do not take into account forms of temporary migration, therefore, using a two-stage content analysis of the social network service Odnoklassniki, the number of accounts of elderly Russian speakers in Southeast Asia was revealed: the most frequent users were in Thailand, then in Vietnam and Singapore. The analysis of cases made it possible to identify several models of migration and adaptation of elderly Russian speakers in Vietnam: the Tourism model (transitional), Family, Active lifestyle, Treatment. Additionally, the legal aspects of the elderly moving to Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries are analyzed. The authors come to the conclusion that the retirement visa does not have a decisive impact on the migration of the elderly, since, for example, Vietnam is one of the main destinations for the migration of elderly Russians, while not providing them with special conditions. The reason is the high financial requirements for candidates to acquire a retirement visa (in countries where such a visa is granted) and the lack of fundamental benefits from obtaining such an opportunity.

Female Russian migrants in Norway and their stories about International Women’s Day

ABSTRACT Although political relations between Russia and Norway have softened over the years, the symbolic boundaries persist. In this article, we illustrate how Russian female migrants in Northern Norway relate to these symbolic boundaries. Thus, perspectives from the phenomenology of the body and critical phenomenology are used to analyze qualitative data on how Russian female migrants experience the celebration of March 8, widely known as International Women’s Day, as a transnational space where they feel both belonging and non-belonging. More specifically, we explore the following research questions: How do Russian female migrants in Northern Norway use International Women’s Day as an occasion to express Russian femininity, or even Russian feminism, in their own way? And what can we, through a political-historical contextualization of these March 8 narratives, learn about the Norwegian majority and how the majority, often in subtle ways, represent women from outside the West, including Russians, as ‘the other’? It is our goal that this article will inspire readers to become more sensitive to racialization processes in our communities by becoming more aware of ‘ourselves’, and how we, through various narratives, reproduce inclusion and exclusion processes.

Local, Institutional, or Transnational? Social Networks of Russian Marriage Migrants in Turkey

This study focuses on the spatialization and institutionalization of social networks of Russian women who migrated to Turkey via marriage in the last 30 years. Specifically, it investigates how and why their social networks have been changing at the local and transnational levels. We conducted in-depth interviews with 56 women between 2014−2021. Our extensive analysis indicates that despite their newly established status via marriages, the Russian women have weak ties with the locals regardless of the migration period, preferring mostly to engage with other Russian women in Turkey. Even if the different migrant associations established by Russian migrants in Turkey do not actually aim this, they create an effect that increases the social distance with the host society and serves to strengthen the connection between the migrants. Also, unlike pioneer migrants, newer marriage migrants have established strong transnational ties with others living overseas, regardless of their gender or ethnic identity. Further, this study reveals that the migrant women's subjectivity, their spouses’ benefit-oriented negotiation styles, and the state's diaspora policy all shape the women's social networks at different levels.