Western Migrants in the Soviet Union, 1920-1940: Expectations and Experiences

CGIS South, Room S250
1730 Cambridge St.
Cambridge
Thu., May 7, 2026, 4:30 – 6 p.m.



In the 1920s–1930s, the Soviet Union became a destination for migrants from the United States and various European countries who were drawn by a mix of ideological commitment and economic opportunity. This talk examines the experiences of those who arrived in Kazakhstan and Russia during this period. It focuses on two distinct trajectories: political migrants inspired by the idea of socialism and eager to witness its realization in practice, and labor migrants attracted by opportunities for work and participation in large-scale industrialization projects. By juxtaposing their experiences, the talk highlights the complex space between belief in the socialist project and its lived implementation, as well as the role of foreign workers and specialists in the process of socialist construction.

Gazette Classification: Lecture, Social Sciences
Organization/Sponsor: The Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies
Speaker(s): Rakhmetolla Zakarya, Teaching Professor, Maqsut Narikbayev University, Nargis Kassenova, Senior Fellow and Director, Program on Central Asia, Davis Center
Cost: Free
Ticket Web Link: www.eventbrite.com…
Contact Info: [email protected]
Harvard Key Required: No
More info: daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu…