CENTRAL ASIAN AND CHINESE MIGRANTS IN PUBLIC OPINION: URAL AND SIBERIAN CASES

In the modern context of a growing population decline, especially in the regions of the Asian part of the Russian Federation, and a labor shortage, assessments of migration in terms of public opinion are becoming relevant. Based on surveys of residents of the Chelyabinsk, Sverdlovsk, Omsk, Novosibirsk regions and Krasnoyarsk Territory, held in September-November 2020, the trajectories of cross-border mobility are shown, sympathies and antipathies in relation to migrant groups are revealed, and the impact of migration on local communities is characterized. The prevalence of indifferent negative attitudes towards migration demonstrates the growth of requests for solving problems in relations between the migrant and non-migrant population. This is an indicator of latent social tension. In general, the negative attitude towards immigrants from China and Central Asia is caused by their low integration into local communities, manifestations of stereotypes, as well as the specific experience of communication betwen host society and migrants. Creation of conditions for everyday interactions based on various social and cultural resources of the presented territories will help to reduce the level of mistrust and anxiety in a situation of contact with the "other".