The New Russian Nationalism Imperialism, Ethnicity and Authoritarianism

everyday nationalism: perceptions of migrants

programmes for construction and improvements – represents a
showcase.
Narratives in which ‘migration’ is inserted within the context of
‘corruption’ are present in many interviews, usually constructed in
one of two ways. The first of these goes as follows: some socially
significant urban problem or other is being discussed, then the
respondent shifts over to the topic of migration, which is seen
as a ‘natural’ and expected continuation of the long- established
unfortunate situation (from generalisation to case). For example,
in discussing why the roads cannot be repaired in a way so that
they would remain in good condition for many years:

R: That’s no good for the boss who runs this construction and repair

company. He gets paid once for the road and that’s it. And then

what? So, every year he dashes here and there, repairs, takes money.

The roads are bad, the Moscow government pays. And there is no

replacement. The business is shared. He’s well established here, he

has connections, naturally, in that same government of Moscow. The

mechanism works well...

I. There is a solution, but it is difficult to implement...

R. This whole structure is built on unskilled labour [implying the

work of migrants, who predominate in this business]. And political

will is needed to bring it down. But they sympathise with their own,

and these are their own. (Man, aged 63, higher technical education,

security guard in a private company)

In the second type of narrative, the observation/opinion of the
respondent about migration and migrants ‘unfolds’ further in a
more general evaluation of some socio- political problem (from
case to generalisation). For example, discussing the problem of
‘rubber flats’^12 and the terrible conditions in which migrants live:

R. In order to live like that... around 3,800 for that place... A

Kyrgyz woman rented a flat for herself there...

I. And then sublets it?

R. Then she gathers her countrymen and settles in. Agrees with the

landlord that she would live there, around 30,000 a month in rent, and

if 18 people at 3,800? Here the mafia are already organising... The