The idea for this study stems from a situation that seems paradoxical to us. While the Russian-speaking Aliyah is generally recognized as having a fairly high educational and professional level, its socio-economic and career development opportunities are limited.
In Western countries, a similar situation causes an increase in intragroup cohesion and solidarity, which provides, on the one hand, the adaptation of the group to the conditions of an aggressive environment of life, on the other hand, the adaptation of the environment to the needs of the group. In other words, mutual adaptation.
Intra-group cohesion, above all, is expressed in the development of social networks, which in science is commonly understood not only as Internet communities. It is also the totality of informal interpersonal relationships (relations of kinship and marriage, friends, like-minded people of interest, hobbies, various kinds of “acquaintances”, “connections”, groups uniting people on ethno-national, religious, etc. grounds), which carry “social capital” – opportunities and resources provided to members of “their” social networks.
Without going into the theory of the matter, in the most general form it can be assistance in everyday life, money, food, clothing, advice and guidance, employment, in solving some issues through “acquaintances,” etc., which a person receives as a result of relationships with people, as well as membership in any groups (communities, clubs, societies, etc.).
Thus, social networks serve as a mechanism of socio-economic adaptation, compensating for the ineffectiveness of the state and formal structures in solving the problems of the population or any of its groups.
Obviously, the more developed the social networks (the greater the number and variety of types of interpersonal relationships) that a person maintains, the greater his resource of adaptation. Therefore, the ineffectiveness of formal structures usually entails the development of social networks and increased cohesion. In turn, intragroup cohesion usually correlates with increased solidaritywhich in this case we consider as the readiness and ability of people to act together to solve common problems, primarily through mechanisms of social and political participation (actions, demonstrations, lobbying, petitions, support of parties, etc.) and influence on political decisions at different levels (state, local, even organizational). Solidarity action is the most important mechanism for adapting the environment to the needs of the group.
The paradox is that the environment that is not entirely friendly to repatriates from CIS countries has not become a factor in their consolidation in solving common problems.
Emigration, perhaps, is not easy for anyone, and it requires not only the most difficult, almost “from scratch” adaptation to the conditions of life in a new society.But the specifics of emigration from the former Soviet Union to Israel is just that, they repatriate, “return” to their country. A homeland in which a significant part of the population, including state figures and political leaders, does not consider Russian-speakers “theirs. In turn, these political leaders and statesmen determine the internal policy of the country, the consequence of which is both the difficulties of socio-economic adaptation and the relatively low quality of life of Aliyah from the former Soviet Union.
In order to overcome these socio-political problems, developed practices of solidarity are necessary, based on the awareness of the Russian-speaking Aliyah as a social group distinct from others, with its own specific traits and interests, and mutual responsibility for its members.
The aforementioned paradox of poorly developed solidarity practices among repatriates from CIS countries in a socio-economic and political environment that is not entirely loyal to them was the reason for a mass questionnaire survey on solidarity and solidarity among Russian-speaking repatriates from the USSR and CIS countries, conducted by the International Analysis Center of the Israeli non-governmental organization “Dor Moriah”.
To date, 437 people have been interviewed, but the questionnaire survey is not yet complete.
The data presented are of an intermediate nature, but nevertheless provide an indication of a number of trends that make it possible to launch research and educational projects to study Russian-speaking Israelis from the former Soviet Union.