Discussion of Cross-Border Migrants: Research and Practical Conference of Altai School of Political Studies (Barnaul, September 25–27, 2014)

Abstract

The paper gives an overview of the general approaches and opinions that emerged during the discussion of the cross-border migration issues at the annual Forum of Altai School of Political Studies which took place on September 25–27 in Barnaul. The theme of the discussion was designated as follows: “Cross-border migrants and the host society: mutual perception and the problems of intercultural exchange”. In the “full-time” discussion that followed the online conference the researchers from Armavir, Barnaul, Kiev, Lviv, Makhachkala, Moscow, Orenburg, Petrozavodsk, St. Petersburg Tomsk, Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg participated. Choice of this conference theme was related to the urgency of that issue, not only at the national but also the regional level. Russian Altai is the region with cross-border contacts with Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia and one of the historical points of intersection of different civilizations and religions. Through its boundary move a significant part of the migrant flow from Central Asia. The article shows the historiographical background, of the discussion of the papers, the contents of the most important statements, arguments and counter-arguments are described. The authors emphasize the importance of using the interdisciplinary approaches to the study of migration. The conclusion is that Russia has had considerable experience in maintaining inter-ethnic harmony, but in today’s world, there are fundamentally new challenges that require, in particular, the development of Russia’s entire system of measures associated with the reception of crossborder migrants.

DOI 10.14258/izvasu(2015)2.1-48