Central Asian Labor Migrants in Russia: The "Diasporization" of the Central Asian States?

Abstract

At the turn of the 2000s, the emigration of Russians from Central Asia to Russia began to lose its relevance in comparison with the rapid development of migratory flows of Tajiks, Kyrgyz and Uzbeks. These migratory flows have complex repercussions on the societies in question, both in Russia and in Central Asia. In Central Asia’s impoverished societies, the possibility to migrate and try to find a job represents a real safety valve. Indeed, labor out-migration postpones unemployment-fueled social tension and socio-political instability. In any case, these flows will have positive as well as negative consequences for the Central Asian economies and societies. They could also have a political impact. Despite their double edge nature, these migrations confirm the emergence of new interactions between Russia and Central Asia. Their consequences could include the risk of confrontation, but also the continuation of cultural exchanges and the preservation of ethnic diversity.