Migration becomes more and more intense nowadays. Do we know why it happens and how to make use of these processes?

Most important reasons, stimulating Russian people to move to other counties for work are:

• development of information and communication technologies;
• international education and intellectual migration (“brain drain”, development of global economy and priorities of transnational corporations).

The research was conducted at the Moscow State University and the Financial University and was overseen by the Government of the Russian Federation. For the study, which was an attempt to reveal possible peculiar features of transnational migration of young people, researchers questioned young men and expats, aged between 18 and 35 years, as well as used official publications of World Bank, the European Commission, IOM (International Organization for Migration), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and United Nations.

Polls revealed that among a variety of positive aspects for changing a country of living the following were discernible:

81% of respondents have chosen personal development;

66% voted for better living standards;

60% searched for career development abroad;

55% considered better salaries in countries, other than Russia;

39% wanted to expand their social networks;

20% found medical services in other countries better;

17% searched for a foreign lover;

and 11% listed political issues as a reason to leave Russia.

Researchers made their best to understand what changes took place in communication flow and social networks of Russians who moved abroad. If we exclude Russia, expats spend 50% of the time in communication with local population and only 15% in contacts with other Russians, who live in this country. Moreover, migrants establish rather stable relationships with other foreigners in the country of residence – 25% of communication time is spent in communication with other migrants. People from other countries get only 10% of the time, allocated for communication. Talking and communicating via Social Networks and other media is thus allocated: relatives - 35%, friends - 28%, classmates - 11%, and colleagues - 26%.

Researchers also wanted to know what kind of support migrants have received, and who has supported them. All respondents said they were psychologically supported by family and friends; and help in getting to know a new country and making new contacts mostly arrived from friends and pals. Financial support mainly came from family and other relatives. Relatives were also a major help for about 54% of migrants in getting educated. In all mentioned aspects business and professional relationships were not as important as friends and family.

Sociological data allow researchers to conclude that Russia should pay close attention to the necessity of using enormous potential of transnational activities of students and young highly-skilled professionals for integration of our country into global political, economical, social and cultural spheres.

Anna Kizilova

Source: Science and Technology.
Author: Julia Shuvalova