Exit and voice in the near abroad: The Russian minority in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Latvia

Michele Elizabeth Commercio, University of Pennsylvania

Abstract

How do different opportunity structures influence Russian minority responses, such as varied rates of exit (emigration) and varied degrees of voice (political mobilization), to post-Soviet challenges? What accounts for variation in type of Russian voice? Russian minority politics in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Latvia are shaped by the interaction of four variables constituting the opportunity structure within which Russians function. A nationalizing state's opportunity structure is comprised of formal policies and informal practices that govern ethnic relations; economic conditions; and the degree to which a minority has access to social capital, or sociopolitical networks that facilitate coordinated activity. The merits of accommodating policies can be diminished by discriminatory practices, poor economic conditions, and a lack of social capital; this can generate a high rate of Russian emigration, which is what we see in the Kyrgyz and Kazakh cases. In the post-Soviet context a lack of social capital makes political mobilization difficult. Russians in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are less organized than Russians in Latvia because they lack social capital. Conversely, inimical effects of exceptionally antagonistic policies can be weakened by developed economic conditions and the presence of social capital; this can generate a low rate of Russian emigration, which is what we see in the Latvian case. Access to social capital enables Russians in Latvia to mobilize. Variance in type of voice is due to the degree to which a regime is willing to negotiate the nature of its nationalization policies. Russian organization is amicable in Kyrgyzstan because the regime is willing to negotiate; fairly contentious in Kazakhstan because the regime is unwilling to alter its mildly antagonistic policies; and quite contentious in Latvia because the regime refuses to modify its exceptionally antagonistic policies.

Recommended Citation

Michele Elizabeth Commercio, "Exit and voice in the near abroad: The Russian minority in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Latvia" (January 1, 2004). Dissertations available from ProQuest. Paper AAI3137998.
http://repository.upenn.edu/dissertations/AAI3137998