Fitting in or Setting the Standards? Nativity and Adherence to Idealized Social Norms in the Russian Federation

Cynthia Buckley, Social Science Research Council (SSRC) and University of Texas at Austin
Mary Elizabeth Malinkin, Kennan Institute

Russia is second only to the United States in the number of foreign born residents. Recent migration into Russia generates increased attention on the social and cultural challenges migrant pose. We utilize content analysis of media, government pronouncements and public opinion surveys to identify core idealized social norms concerning family, respect for governmental institutions, and health behaviors. Using Waves I and II of the Russian Gender and Generation Survey (each with over 9,700 respondents and approximately 12% foreign born), we examine whether the foreign born in Russia display social attitudes that differ from national ideals, and whether they differ from the native born. Our finding indicate that the foreign born display significantly greater adherence to idealized social norms than the native born, although this relationship declines with duration. Our results highlight the disjuncture between politicized immigration fears, and the impact of in-migration on core socio-cultural practices, informing theories of integration.