Russia's Migration Policy and Response of Civil Society

As with other migration destination countries, there is a vigorous debate underway in Russia as to how much migration should be allowed. For it's part, the pro-immigration side asserts that Russia needs more people to make up for a demographic shortfall and stimulate economic development. The anti-immigration side maintains that there are already too many “foreigners†in the country, claims that most engage in criminal activities, and insists that their incorporation into Russian society is problematic. Along these lines of thought, the Russian government's migrant policy has been made more restrictive and similar to the laws of Western European countries. But in the next decade, the shortage of labor will get worse the farther across Russian territory. It is desirable that the activity of civil society is supplemented through migrant policy and migrant labor forces will covered with the shortage of population density and economic development in Russia. Finally, overcoming the immigration challenge for Russia in this century should play a key role in activation of newly establishing Russian civil society.