Will the Russians return from the near abroad?

Area of Science:

• Demographics
• Sociology
• Political Science

Background:

• Post-Soviet geopolitical shifts led to involuntary migration of Russian populations.
• Significant Russian diasporas reside in non-Russian republics of the former USSR.
• The study addresses the complex issue of Russian population movements after the Soviet Union's dissolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the scale and implications of involuntary Russian migration.
• To analyze Russian public opinion on policies for co-nationals abroad.
• To critically assess the effectiveness of policies aimed at preventing Russian out-migration from near-abroad countries.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of migration magnitudes and conditions in Central Asia.
• Assessment of Russian attitudes towards co-national policies.
• Examination of conditions in Russian regions receiving migrants.

Main Results:

• The study quantifies potential in-migration into Russia.
• It explores Russian public sentiment regarding co-national return.
• It evaluates the socio-economic conditions in receiving regions within Russia.

Conclusions:

• Russian policy effectiveness in managing co-national migration is questioned.
• The study provides a critical perspective on preventing out-migration from former Soviet republics.
• Findings inform policy debates on migration and national identity in post-Soviet Russia.