Russian Wave : Migrations of Russian as a Global/Local Social Phenomenon

Abstract

This paper discusses the contemporary phenomenon of migrations in the territory of Montenegro. I have been researching the connections of the Russians with Boka Kotorska that have existed since the 18th century until the present day. This paper will pay special attention to the social aspects of Russian migrations. The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians accepted more than 20,000 Russian refugees in the October Revolution aftermath. The elite of the imperial Russia emigrated to Boka Kotorska. These Russian immigrants are remembered by a large number of cultural events and social plans. Russian migrations are presented in this study both as a global and a Russo-Montenegrin phenomenon. Since early 2000s, Russians have intensively been buying real estate, especially in littoral Montenegro as well as in mountain regions. Intensified construction of housing units is an indicator of numerous changes on the local level, primarily in the area of apartment building and economic empowerment of local population. Published and electronic media provide valid information related to the residence and activities of the Russian newcomers. Their presence is felt throughout the whole year. It is manifested through Russian language heard in the streets, banks, shops, pharmacies, hotels and restaurants, tourist agencies, as well as through advertising. The old Russian cemetery in Herceg Novi is experiencing its renewal: a chapel is being built and cemetery itself re-built. The questions are: what is the reflection of this transitional, Orthodox fluctuation on global economy and what are the related changes on the cultural and social plan.

U radu se razmatra savremeni fenomen migracija na teritoriji Crne Gore. Istraživala sam veze Rusa sa Bokom Kotorskom koje postoje od 18. vijeka do današnjih dana. Rad posebno vodi računa o socijalnim aspektima ruskih migracija. Kraljevina Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca je prihvatila više od 20.000 ruskih izbjeglica nakon Oktobarske revolucije. Elita carske Rusije emigrirala je u Boku Kotorsku. Ovi ruski imigranti su zapamćeni po velikom broju kulturnih događaja i socijalnih planova. Ruske migracije su u ovoj studiji predstavljene i kao globalni i kao rusko-crnogorski fenomen. Od ranih 2000-tih Rusi su intenzivno kupovali nekretnine, posebno u primorskoj Crnoj Gori, kao i u planinskim područjima. Intenziviranje izgradnje stambenih jedinica pokazatelj je brojnih promjena na lokalnom nivou posebno u oblasti gradnji apartmana i ekonomskom jačanju lokalnog stanovništva. Štampani i elektronski mediji pružaju informacije koje se odnose na boravak i aktivnosti ruskih pridošlica. Njihovo prisustvo se osjeća tokom cijele godine. Ono se manifestuje tako što se ruski jezik čuje na ulici, u bankama, prodavnicama, apotekama, hotelima i restoranima, turističkim agencijama kao i na reklamama. Staro rusko groblje doživjelo je obnovu: gradi se kapela a i samo groblje se rekonstruiše. Pitanja su: Kako se ova tranzicijska, pravoslavna fluktuacija odražava na globalnu ekonomiju i kakve su prateće promjene na kulturnom i socijalnom planu?