Examining the Contemporary Geopolitical Trends of the Central Asian Diasporic Labor Market in the Aftermath of the Russo-Ukrainian War

Abstract

Labor migration is an integral component of the Central Asian political economy, and most of such migration takes place to Russia. Based on the legacy of the Soviet era, Russia has been able to absorb millions of Central Asian migrants, which has helped in sustaining the lives of the people in the region. However, the recent economic crisis in Russia, stringent migration policies coupled with the political instability in the region due to the Ukrainian crisis have resulted in the diversification of the destinations of the Central Asian migrants who are currently opting for Turkey, South Korea, and the Gulf countries. The paper discusses various relevant factors along with assessing the consequences of the said diversification of the migration destinations. It identifies that, on the economic front, the wage gap and employment opportunities in South Korea, the demand for labor in the Gulf countries, and the service industry in Turkey have provided new opportunities for the migrants whereas, on the political front, the instability in Russia has resulted in the weakening of her political power hence bringing down the trust level of probable migrants over Russia. On the social aspect, the presence of diasporas, linguistic and religious ties facilitate the process of integration in Turkey. Remittances from South Korea and the Gulf countries have provided diversity in sources of income. The study finds that the migration diversification has profound geopolitical consequences as well. The power of Russia is declining, and this is creating a new order. Turkey is trying to expand its power based on the Turkic factor. Similarly, South Korea is creating a new order as a financial partner and culture. The Gulf countries are trying to use remittances as a financial center. In the context of dependency, soft power, and the construction of the nation-state, this research establishes that the issue of labor migration is not only economic but also has geopolitical implications for the changes occurring in the politics of Central Asia. The study recommends that there is a possibility of risks and opportunities, and it is important that the countries of Central Asia manage their dependencies over various countries while ensuring the rights of migrants and the security of their remittances.