Migration, post-socialism, and diasporic experiences - fragmented lives, entangled worlds
ENThis special issue focuses on migration and the diasporic experiences of individuals from the former Soviet Union, and looks at their complex histories, current realities, and future hopes. It is set against the disruptive backdrop of the war in Ukraine, as Europe faces profound political shifts and debates over belonging. In this context, scholars critically evaluate the terminology and frameworks traditionally used to describe the former Soviet Union and its people. They advocate for the adoption of more nuanced analytical approaches to capture the varied and complex processes of transformation experienced by the countries in question, their inhabitants, as well as those diasporic communities that have established themselves in new locales. Transitioning from these broader discussions, we narrow our focus on the everyday lives of diasporic populations, informed by our active participation in the research network “Ambivalences of the Soviet”. This network, which centred on communities of German late repatriates and Jewish minorities, aimed to illuminate the nuanced practices of diasporic people, their life during the Soviet period, personal memories of that time, and the reconstruction of communities following migration to countries like Germany. Simultaneously, individual projects within the network sought to critically evaluate the term ‘diaspora’ itself, engaging it in dialogue with other notions. [p. 1].
