Migration and Identity in the Post-Soviet Space: Transnational Perspectives on Diaspora and Return

Abstract

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 triggered one of the largest and most complex migration processes in recent history. Millions of people moved across newly formed borders, reshaping identities, communities, and political geographies. This paper explores the transnational dimensions of migration and identity formation in the post-Soviet space. It examines how Soviet legacies, new national boundaries, and global migration networks influenced the emergence of diasporas, patterns of return migration, and evolving notions of belonging. Drawing on comparative and transnational perspectives, the study argues that post-Soviet migration cannot be understood solely in national terms but as part of broader global processes of mobility, identity negotiation, and cultural reconfiguration.