Bark Without a Bite? The Politics of Anti-immigrant and Anti-minority Views in Russia

• In Event: 594 - Section on Political Sociology Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 20. Intolerance

Abstract

Anti-immigrant and anti-minority sentiment appears to have surged among ethnic Russians in recent years, at least judging by a rash of major protests, hate crime figures, and the rise of avowedly nationalist politicians. However, although there is cause for concern, a detailed analysis of survey data shows that the situation is more complex than implied by alarmist commentary portending a surge in chauvinistic nationalism. Xenophobic attitudes are indeed expressed by a wide swathe of the ethnic Russian public, and are especially characteristic of Moscow residents, those with the least education, and (in the case of hostility toward minority groups associated with the “east”) young people. But few say that immigration issue is salient relative to other issues. Even fewer base their electoral choices on immigration concerns. Antipathy toward minorities and immigrants is associated with related nationalist attitudes, but there is no political party or force in Russian society that has emerged as an effective articulator of positions that unite the most xenophobic elements of the society. Instead, xenophobia is mainly linked to broad rejection of the status quo parties and government institutions and with support for the nascent opposition movement.

Author

• Theodore P. Gerber, University of Wisconsin-Madison