Constructing ethnic diversity as a security threat: what it means to Russia’s minorities

Prina, F. (2021) Constructing ethnic diversity as a security threat: what it means to Russia’s minorities. International Journal on Minority and Group Rights, 28(1), pp. 1-35. (doi: 10.1163/15718115-bja10002)

Abstract

This article analyses the Russian government’s securitisation of inter-ethnic relations, and national minorities’ responses to such processes. While Russia’s securitising dynamics have been linked to threats associated with ethnic groups (perceived as) culturally distant from the Russian majority (such as non-Slavic and Muslim minorities), this article argues that securitisation can affect all of Russia’s national minorities (including Slavic and well-integrated communities). Through the analysis of the securitisation of three, partly converging, spheres of domestic politics (civil society, migration, and minority issues) the article highlights forms of (in)security impacting upon national minorities with reference to their experience of securitisation and format of their civic engagement. The article contributes to research exploring the relationship between security and minority studies, through a bottom-up perspective focusing on national minorities’ experience of securitisation. It employs empirical data based on semi-structured interviews with minority representatives held in 2015–2016 in six locations in the Russian Federation.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Prina, Dr Federica
• Authors: Prina, F.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Central and East European Studies
• Journal Name: International Journal on Minority and Group Rights
• Publisher: Brill
• ISSN: 1385-4879
• ISSN (Online): 1571-8115
• Published Online: 26 November 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 Brill
• First Published: First published in International Journal on Minority and Group Rights 28(1):1-35
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher