Political Dissent and Democratic Remittances: The Activities of Russian Migrants in Europe

This book explores the activities of political dissidents who have emigrated from Russia and their engagement in civic and political participation targeted at their home country. It demonstrates that forced emigration no longer functions efficiently as a means of calming political unrest and analyzes the content, structure, and channels of political democratic remittances sent by political dissidents overseas.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 218 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the activities of individuals who express political dissent after leaving their country, with a particular focus on the recent wave of political emigration from Russia unleashed during President Vladimir Putin's third term. Drawing on rich ethnographic data and interviews conducted with Russian emigrants residing in EU member-states, who actively participate in civic and political activities aimed at their home country, the author demonstrates that emigration, particularly forced emigration that forces political dissidents out of their country, has become less effective in calming political unrest. The author employs the concept of social remittances to analyze the content, structure, and channels of political democratic remittances sent by political dissidents overseas, examining the factors that shape these efforts and the perceived outcomes of these endeavors. This study offers valuable insights to scholars engaged in research on migration, diaspora, democratization processes, citizenship, EU studies, and Russia studies.

Introduction:
The recent wave of political emigration from Russia has garnered significant attention due to the political unrest and crackdown on dissent that has characterized President Vladimir Putin's third term. This emigration has been driven by a range of factors, including persecution, economic opportunities, and a desire for political freedom. While emigration has long been a feature of Russian history, the recent surge has raised questions about the effectiveness of this strategy in calming political unrest.

The Activities of Political Dissidents After Leaving Russia:
This book explores the activities of political dissidents who have left their country and are now engaged in homeland politics. The author conducts extensive interviews with Russian emigrants residing in EU member-states, who are actively involved in civic and political participation targeted at their home country. The author demonstrates that emigration, particularly forced emigration, does not necessarily calm political unrest. Instead, it can exacerbate tensions and create new challenges for those who remain behind.

Social Remittances and Political Democratic Remittances:
The author draws on the concept of social remittances to analyze the content, structure, and channels of political democratic remittances sent by political dissidents overseas. Social remittances refer to the financial and non-financial support that migrants send back to their home countries, often to support family members or contribute to community development. Political democratic remittances, on the other hand, refer to the support that political dissidents send back to their home countries to promote political change and democracy.

Content, Structure, and Channels of Political Democratic Remittances:
The author examines the content, structure, and channels of political democratic remittances sent by political dissidents overseas. The remittances can take various forms, including donations to political parties, support for human rights organizations, and political activism. The channels of transmission can vary, including traditional remittance channels such as banks and money transfer services, as well as new digital platforms that have emerged in recent years.

Factors that Shape Political Democratic Remittances:
The author identifies several factors that shape political democratic remittances. These include the political context of the sending country, the economic conditions of the receiving country, and the level of political repression in the sending country. The political context can influence the content and structure of the remittances, as political dissidents may prioritize certain issues or political parties over others. The economic conditions of the receiving country can also impact the remittances, as economic instability or poverty may increase the demand for financial support.

Perceived Effects of Political Democratic Remittances:
The author analyzes the perceived effects of political democratic remittances on the political landscape of the sending country. While some argue that these remittances can promote political change and democracy, others argue that they can exacerbate tensions and create new challenges for those who remain behind. The perceived effects can vary depending on the specific context and the nature of the remittances.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book offers valuable insights into the activities of political dissidents who have left their country and are now engaged in homeland politics. The author demonstrates that emigration, particularly forced emigration, does not necessarily calm political unrest and can exacerbate tensions and create new challenges for those who remain behind. The book also explores the concept of social remittances and political democratic remittances, examining the content, structure, and channels of these remittances and the factors that shape them. The book will appeal to scholars across a range of social sciences engaged in research on migration, diaspora, democratization processes, citizenship, EU studies, and Russia studies.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367551841