How Russian diaspora communities navigate identity, risk, and political alignment in exile

We will investigate how host countries, origin-country policies, and supranational pressures shape migration strategies and political engagement, and why and how some individuals organize to express support or opposition to Russian policies and government.

The large-scale emigration from Russia takes place against a backdrop of sanctions, transnational political repression, and social inclusion/exclusion dynamics, which vary significantly across host countries. A key area of exploration for the project is how these differences impact political identity, sense of community, and willingness to engage in activism or to integrate in the local community in their current country of residence This study will enable systematic comparisons across several European countries, including Georgia, Latvia, Serbia, the UK, and Norway. The analysis will draw on surveys, social network analysis, and qualitative interviews.

The study bridges international relations and migration studies to produce insights on how policies and transnational ties can either foster or hinder democratic mobilization within diaspora communities. Research findings could help guide Western governments and international organizations in providing effective support to those within the Russian diaspora working toward democratic change and may also reveal ways Russian authorities attempt to influence and suppress opposition activities even from afar, a trend increasingly relevant given the rise of transnational repression from authoritarian regimes worldwide.

Ultimately, RUDIMO aims to offer a robust analysis of the ways diaspora communities navigate identity, risk, and political alignment in exile, potentially laying the groundwork for new approaches in migration studies and international relations.