Socio-demographic and political features of the development of Russian-speaking communities in Brazil and Latin America in the context of geopolitical upheaval

• Grant number: 22/04437-3
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Duration: August 15, 2022 - August 14, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Sociology - Other specific Sociologies
• Principal Investigator: Oswaldo Mario Serra Truzzi
• Grantee: Oswaldo Mario Serra Truzzi
• Visiting researcher: Sergey Ryazantsev
• Visiting researcher institution: Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Russia
• Host Institution: Centro de Educação e Ciências Humanas (CECH). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

At UFSCar, Prof. Ryazantsev could do two key things. The first is the development of theoretical and applied research on the social aspects of migration and the diaspora. Previously, he had experience in preparing applications, receiving grants and developing research projects from international organizations of the UN system and scientific foundations. The research topics - labor migration, adaptation and integration of migrants, development of migration policy - perfectly fit to the agenda of the research groups that I (Social History of Migration and Work) and Profa. Svetlana (InterMob) coordinate. Together we will develop a research project - Russian Speaking Immigrants in Brazil and Latin America: From the First Communities to the Present - in which Prof. Sergey will develop an essential part called "Socio-demographic and political features of the development of Russian-speaking communities in the context of geopolitical upheavals." Scientific work includes the analysis of statistical data and field work (sociological survey of migrants, expert interviews), by integrating students into a research group for field work, analysis of sociological data, presentation of research results. The issues to be investigated are: 1. A description of the waves of Russian-speaking communities in the context of historical and geopolitical events; 2. The socio-economic and demographic structure of the group in the main areas of settlement, the demographic processes of population reproduction (fertility, mortality, aging); 3. The impact of the geopolitical events of 2014-2022 in Eastern Europe on emigration from Russia, Ukraine and other countries of the former USSR; 4. Migration attitudes and migration trajectories of the Russian-speaking population in Latin America and Brazil; 5. The socio-economic features of the Russian-speaking communities, employment patterns and the role of the Russian language as social capital in labor market, as well as the transformation of employment in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical changes; 6. Features of the socio-political views of representatives of Russian-speaking communities in 2014-2022 on the situation in Russia, on foreign policy and development prospects of Russian society and the state; 7. The role of the Russian-speaking and Portuguese-speaking media and social networks in the consolidation and polarization of the Russian-speaking communities in Brazil, especially the youth group; 8. The degree of integration of the Russian-speaking population into Brazilian society and their orientation towards interaction in Russia. The second area of work is teaching. Previously, he had experience teaching several courses for undergraduate and graduate students at various universities around the world [Institute for Demographic Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences and MGIMO (Russia), Davis University California, University of London, European University Institute (Italy), Population Institute and Mahidol University (Thailand), Charles University (Czech Republic), Hitotsubashi University and Hokkaido University (Japan), Institute of Economics, Geography and Demography (Spain), Institute of Economics and Demography (Tajikistan), Unicamp and UERJ, University of Buenos Aires]. At UFSCar, he could teach the course "Sociology of Migration" for postgraduate students (see Other Documents). The course is devoted to the social aspects of migration in the world and Brazil, includes various approaches to teaching (lectures, discussions, field research and presentations, discussion of video stories) and the results of my many years of research in a varied set of sources (interviews and sociological surveys, migration statistics, archives and libraries. Methods for collecting, processing, analyzing and presenting these materials are also integrated into his course, allowing students to be taught practical skills in working with migration data and improving scientific production on the area. (AU)