Scholarly record

PROBLEMS OF ADAPTATION OF MIGRANTS FROM CENTRAL ASIA IN RUSSIA

V. Taisheva, A. Hovhannisyan

Abstract

The intensification of international migration processes in the modern world entails a number of issues, one of which is the problem of social adaptation and integration of migrants in the social life of the host country. This issue is on the agenda in all countries receiving migrants and refugees, including Russia. The Russian Federation is the center of regional migration processes, becoming the main state receiving migrants from the former Soviet Union countries, especially from Central Asian. Along with the positive effect that migrants have on the Russian labor market, filling the labor shortage, the increasing flow of migrants sometimes leads to inter-ethnic tensions and increased discontent in society. Thus, the need occurs for the implementations of measures to facilitate migrant adaptation, their involvement in the social and cultural life of Russia, to encourage their interest in the culture, traditions and values of Russian society. However, like any other modern process, the adaptation of migrants is linked to a number of difficulties and obstacles, taking their origins in both the migrants and the autochthonous society. This paper analyzes the problems of the integration of Central Asian migrants in Russian society. The article shows that the process of adaptation of migrants is bilateral and requires a comprehensive approach. Statistical data of international organizations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), as well as Russian state structures, including the Government of Russia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and others was widely used during the research. The empirical base of the research relies on sociological studies conducted by the Russia Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM), Levada-Center, the international non-governmental organization "Search for Common Ground", the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies (RUSI).

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