Migrants Negotiating Identity Beyond the Soviet Space: Central Asian and White Russian Experiences

Session Submission Type: Panel

Brief Description

This panel examines the experiences of Central Asian and White Russian migrants, focusing on the redefinition of identities among these former Russian and Soviet citizens. The presenters explore how displaced individuals and communities navigate shifting affiliations, preserve their culture, or redefine their national identity in ways that fit or challenge state-imposed classifications. With an interdisciplinary approach incorporating sociology, history, migration, refugee, and diaspora studies, this panel highlights the agency of migrants in the process of resettlement and maneuvering through different geopolitical and transnational contexts, as well as their influence over the construction of diasporic memory. James Meyer explores the diverse and intricate identities of Russian refugees in interwar Istanbul, emphasizing that the label “White Russian” was not a universally applied term but rather referred to a particular group with distinct legal, social, and political meanings that shifted based on historical context and Turkish government classification. Shoirakhon Nurdinova investigates the historical patterns of Uzbek migration to the United States, the processes of sociocultural institutionalization, and the role of civil society organizations in balancing cultural preservation with societal integration. Zeynep Otluoglu Dursun examines the evolving identity of Central Asian migrants, specifically former Red Army soldiers, who redefined themselves as “Turkestanis” and actively participated in Turkestani nationalist efforts opposing the Soviet Union during and after World War II. This panel contributes to conversations on diaspora identity, the influence of state authority in determining refugee and migrant status, and the significance of cultural institutions in preserving heritage across borders.

Sub Unit

• History: 1900-1945

Chair

• Vladimir Hamed-Troyansky, UC Santa Barbara

Papers

• Who was a White Russian?: White Russians and Russian Refugees in Interwar Istanbul - James H. Meyer, Montana State U

• Uzbek Associations in America: Connecting Communities Across Borders - Shoirakhon Nurdinova, Tashkent U of Applied Sciences (Uzbekistan)

• World War II and the Turkestan Legion: From Soviet Citizens to Turkestanis - Zeynep Otluoglu Dursun, Binghamton U

Discussant

• Laurie Manchester, Arizona State U