Migrants Community in the Republic of Tatarstan: The Strategies of Adaptation and Relations with the Host Population

Abstract

The importance of the problem under investigation is due to the need of thorough research of the complicated issues associated with the adaptation of migrant workers in the host society. All these issues are of great social, economic, political and cultural significance for the modern Russian society in general, and the Republic of Tatarstan in particular. The strategies of migrant integration into the host society, as well as the social and cultural processes taking place within migrant communities have been undergoing a serious reconsideration and research. The purpose of the research is to analyze the adaptation strategies of migrants and the main features of their interaction with the host population. The analyzed materials have been gathered using the methods of opinion poll, as well as biographical and semi-structured interview. As a result there have been analyzed the degree of intra-group cohesion of migrants through their social contacts and attitude to intermarriage. The factors obstructing the migrant interaction with the local population have been also reviewed within the conducted research. Special attention was given to the way the respondents assess the attitude of the local population toward migrants. Overall, the social and cultural features of migrants have a great impact on the successfulness of their adaptation to the host society. The data and results of the conducted research presented in the article might be useful to anthropologists, social and cultural anthropologists, political scientists, migration and interethnic cooperation department representatives.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s5p280