Children of migrants are exposed to two national histories: those told in their country of residence and those relating to their family’s homeland. However, it is unclear how the intergenerational transmission of historical views shapes the relationships migrants cultivate with ‘here’ and ‘there’.

Applying theories of intergenerational transmission and second-generation transnationalism, MoveMeRU addresses this urgent gap and compares the historical memories of migrants and non-migrants across two generations. It studies Russian migrant populations in favourable, hostile, and neutral reception contexts, looking at Germany, Estonia, and Canada, respectively. Like many other autocracies, Russia uses historical memories to appeal to the emotions of citizens at home and abroad and strengthen their sense of belonging to Russia.

MoveMeRU brings together several research approaches:

1. parent-child opinion surveys on views of history among migrant communities and non-migrant nationals in the three destination countries;
2. cross-generational focus groups in the same countries; and
3. analysis of historical narratives in the media targeting Russian speakers abroad.

The project will refine our understanding of differences and similarities in the intergenerational transmission of memories in migrant and non-migrant families, offering important insights into the drivers of and obstacles to integration. The results will have major implications for policy-making in destination countries and for public awareness of intergenerational shifts within migrant communities.

• To what extent do young adults in migrant and non-migrant families identify with their parents’ countries of origin and their historical setting?
• Under what conditions do the historical memories and political attitudes of young adults in migrant and non-migrant families converge with, or diverge from, those of their parents?
• What kinds of historical memories are conducive to solidarity and pluralist political attitudes or, conversely, to indifference and intolerance?