Glass and excursion

Russian demographers became interested in the Swiss experience of adaptation of migrants

Demographic scientists made another attempt to convince the authoritiesof the destructiveness of repressive migration policies yesterday. Yesterday, at a conference on migration issues at the Russian Social and Political Center, experts tried to prove, using examples, that it is in the state interests of today’s Russia not to reduce the number of migrants, but to actively engage in their adaptation to the realities of our country .

“Migration occupies an empty niche in the social structure,” says Anatoly Vishnevsky, head of the Center for Demography and Human Ecology at the Institute of National Economic Forecasting of the Russian Academy of Sciences. -- At the same time, migrants themselves experience difficulties adapting to a new country. Moreover, it is easier for people to recognize the right to a different language or a different faith than the right to a different way of life, a different type of behavior, other values.”

True, demographers still have few concrete proposals. As Mr. Vishnevsky admitted, over the past 15 years that Russia has been open to visitors, it has not been possible to answer all the questions regarding the mechanisms of painless adaptation. This is how our country differs from other European countries, which faced the problem several decades ago and during this time have already managed to develop not only a strategy, but also specific technologies for the assimilation of foreigners. One of these countries is Switzerland, which was represented at the conference not by a researcher, but by an official - the head of the Zurich Department of Migration, Christoph Meyer. “When talking about integration, we need to start from reality,” Mr. Mayer said. - Sometimes it is very difficult to proceed from the fait accompli that these people are already here, they are already living, they are already left. The question is not whether we want it or not, but how to make our coexistence normal.”

In Switzerland, according to him, today 20.5% of foreigners and 27.9% of citizens born outside the country live. Therefore, migration concerns the entire society, and society must be aware of the problem. Mr. Meyer spoke about things that are unusual for today's Russian realities. For example, that “new arrivals” are greeted with a glass of wine, a short introductory lecture and excursions. That schools are not allowed to ask whether a student’s family lives in the country legally or illegally. And that even public transport is considered as important an element of integration as language courses. “If the place where foreigners live is inaccessible, it can exacerbate their isolation and lead to the creation of a ghetto,” he said.

Russian demographers believe that the Swiss experience can be useful for our country. However, it is obvious that awareness of the need to adjust migration policy and move away from purges in markets and the construction of “Potemkin villages” for compatriots allegedly wishing to return must occur in the very top layers of government. “Integration policy cannot be one or two projects,” warned the head of Zurich’s migration department. - These are many areas that should be developed simultaneously. Therefore, we need some kind of structure to coordinate this work.”

Irina BELASHEVA