Families of Migrants from Central Asia in Russia: Expert Discourse

Abstract

Migration from Central Asian countries to Russia, which initially began as predominantly male and temporary labor migration, is increasingly becoming long-term. This shift is reflected in the growing number of migrants who are accompanied by family members—or who aim to start families—, aiming for permanent residence and acquiring Russian citizenship. This article presents research findings on this new migration trend based on an analysis
of 98 in-depth semi-structured interviews with experts specializing in various aspects of migration in Russia. The expert discourse reveals how representatives of Russian authorities, public organizations, educational institutions, and social institutions conceptualize and structure the issue of Central Asian families in Russia. The study examines expert approaches to defining migrant families, the mechanisms of family formation, and the key characteristics of these families and explores the impact of migration on the transformation of the institutions of family and marriage, as evidenced by the increasing diversity of family forms and models of intra-family relations. The article also addresses the unique challenges and features of migrant family adaptation and integration. The presence of a family during migration to Russia is interpreted as a factor that facilitates adaptation and integration. However, the experts largely associate full integration into Russian societal structures, culture, and identity transformation with the children of migrants. The analysis also highlights that migrant families are typically compared to the archetypal Russian family, the traditional Central Asian family, and to individual migrants. The complexity of the issue of family migrants are shaped by the phenomenon itself and by the expert perspective. The article concludes that migration transforms various aspects of the institutions of family and marriage, not only in the Central Asian countries that send migrants but also in Russia. The most significant changes are observed in the patriarchal order and gender dynamics.