Friendship Without Solidarity: Soviet Legacy, Rhetoric of Unity, and Migrants in Contemporary Russia

Abstract

The article examines the reinterpretation of the Soviet idea of the “friendship of peoples” as the concept of the “unity of the peoples of Russia” in contemporary Russian official state discourse and its impact on attitudes toward migrants and their integration. Through an analysis of policy documents, public discourse, and real-world examples, including National Unity Day celebrations with diaspora and foreign groups, this article reveals that the current model retains aspects of its Soviet predecessor. However, this model exhibits a lack of key principles, including universalism, social solidarity, a future-oriented vision, and mutual support. Although the resulting value framework is formally upheld, it contains internal inconsistencies that prevent it from bridging the gap between official unity rhetoric and everyday practices. These practices are often marked by xenophobia and a fear of migrants, as well as weak incentives for integration. The article concludes that effective integration cannot rely on symbolic and ritual forms alone, but requires the restoration of social justice mechanisms and more equal access to resources.