Socio-cultural adaptation of migrants: problems and strategies (Tomsk case)

The article analyses the problems of socio-cultural adaptation of migrants ofdifferent categories in the city of Tomsk and Tomsk region. We consider adaptive strategies of migrants, tools and ways of solving problemsof adaptation. The issue is raised of conservation and transformation of ethnic identity of migrants. The most distinctive adaptivestrategies the migrants choose are strategies for ghettoization and integration. The strategy of ghettoization is more typical for peoplefrom Central Asia. The reasons for choosing this strategy are 1) economic - they only come for seasonal work, earn for a year and goback to their families; 2) the very Russian society and identity are not attractive to migrants due to the general socio-economic instability,blurring of values. In such circumstances, the value of their (traditional) culture and society are more preferred for visitors. Themain problems of socio-cultural adaptation of migrants may be ranked as problems of legal and economic fields, cultural and communicativespace, as well as problems of physiological adaptation. However, there are problems with migrants adaptation expressed in theexacerbation of social competition, as well as in the increase of the intolerance level in the host society. Currently, the Diaspora is themain tool to assist migrants to solve these problems. Its activities address these problems in the economic, legal, educational, informationaland cultural spheres. We can distinguish two trends: the preservation and transformation of national identity by different types ofmigrants. The first trend is for new generations of migrants from Central Asia. Quantitatively, a strong inflow of migrant workers increasesthe size of the diaspora, with the result that the newcomers close on communicating with the tribe. The result is the growing culturaldistance between the migrants and the local population. The second trend - the transformation of national identity - is typical for migrantsfrom the Transcaucasian states. It manifests itself in the gradual erosion of identity of the rooted migrants who retain a sense of belongingto their people, but, at the same time, lose their native language, culture and lifestyle. The highlighted trends affect, in turn, the identityof the regional society, transforming it. An example would be Tomsk Polytechnic University, which has long and consistently beeninvolved in the organization of international student exchange. Heads of separate units of the university are already talking about theneed to work on the universitys image, making it more attractive for educational migrants; it is necessary to change themselves andtheir attitude to the phenomenon.

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