Articles

The Chinese Migration in the Post-Soviet Space: A Comparative Case-study of Russia and Kazakhstan

Vostok/Oriens '2014, №3

 
The article compares the structure and volumes of migration flows from China to the two largest post-Soviet countries – Russia and Kazakhstan. It focuses on the contribution of two key groups of migrants – entrepreneurs and contract workers – to the economy of these two receiving countries. The analysis reveals that temporary migrants constitute a predominant category of visitors from China. The paper also contains an in-depth study of the challenges associated with large numbers of Chinese immigrants, including competition on local labour market and the so-called ‘demographic threat’. The article then draws conclusions which incorporate Chinese economic policy as well as economic interests of and public opinion in Russia and Kazakhstan.

Keywords: Chinese migration, Post-Soviet space, labour competition, ‘China’s demographic threat’

Pages: С. 107–119