Assimilation or integration: Similarities and differences between acculturation attitudes of migrants from Central Asia and Russians in Central Russia

Abstract

When acculturation strategies of migrants and acculturation expectations of a host society do not coincide, psychological outcomes for members of the groups in contact can differ significantly. Berry (2013) proposed that intercultural relations can be understood on the basis of three hypotheses: the multiculturalism hypothesis, the integration hypothesis, and the contact hypothesis. Our goal was to test these three hypotheses in Russian majority and Asian minority groups. Migrants from Central Asia (N = 168; 88 ethnic Uzbeks and 80 ethnic Tajiks) and ethnic Russians (N = 158) were surveyed using a self-report questionnaire that included measures developed by the Mutual Intercultural Relations in Plural Societies project. Data processing was carried out using Structural Equation Modeling with the Russians and the migrants separately. We found significant and positive relationships between perceived security and multicultural ideology in both groups. We found a positive relationship between intercultural contacts and the integration strategy among the migrants from Central Asia. Intercultural contacts in the group of Russians was positively related to the expectation of integration and negatively related to the expectation of assimilation. The integration strategy of the migrants was positively related to their self-esteem, while the assimilation strategy was positively related to their sociocultural adaptation and life satisfaction. Among the Russians, the integration expectation promoted their better life satisfaction and self-esteem. The multiculturalism hypothesis was partially supported with both the migrants from Central Asia and the Russians: perceived security promoted an acceptance of multicultural ideology but didn't promote ethnic tolerance. The contact hypothesis was partially supported in both groups: interethnic contacts were positively linked to the integration strategy of the migrants and the integration expectations of the Russians. The integration hypothesis was fully supported in the sample of Russians and partially supported in the sample of migrants. The migrants' adoption of the assimilation strategy promoted their life satisfaction and sociocultural adaptation.

International student migrants from Asian countries: features of their ethnic identity and acculturation strategies

“…Researchers studying the applicability of this model for the Russian context report that the main conditions for positive cross-cultural relations in Russia are associated with the support of tolerance, perceived security [15], and acceptance of multiculturalism at the level of interpersonal relations [16] and at the level of public policy [17]. Lebedeva, Tatarko and Berry [18] point to the need to: (1) promote multiculturalism and integration policies;…”

National Identity Management Strategies: Do they Help or Hinder Adoption of Multiculturalism in Russia?

“…Studies have shown that although cultural diversity is commonly viewed as beneficial by majority Russians, they also support the idea of limiting the rights of non-indigenous people (migrants), as well as the idea that the number of immigrants should be reduced (Mezhnatsional'nye otnosheniya: monitoring FOM, 2014). Several studies provide evidence that in the Russian context, support for multiculturalism is stronger when questions are asked about indigenous minority groups compared to migrant groups (galyapina & lebedeva, 2016;lebedeva & Tatarko, 2013;Ryabichenko & lebedeva, 2016).…”

Untitled

“…Способствует ли выполнение этих трех условий взаимной адаптации представителей различных этнокультурных групп -проблема, которая изучается в разных странах (Dandy, Pe-Pua, 2010;Gui et al, 2016;Hui et al, 2015), включая Россию (Galyapina, Lebedeva, 2016;Lebedeva et al, 2016;Ryabichenko, Lebedeva, 2016). Все эти исследования выполнены в рамках проекта MIRIPS 1 , в котором мультикультурализм понимается как идеология, подразумевающая, что культурное разнообразие -это благо для общества в целом и для его отдельных членов.…”