Narratives of belonging in life stories of Russian minority in Latvia

Abstract

After the collapse of the Soviet Union considerable part of so-called Soviet citizens found themselves in a “foreign” country. Many of them applied for Russian citizenship, however significant part stay without any. There are popular discourses which aim to challenge former immigrants` identities in Latvia, and to handle with that people are developing personal narratives to adjust new identifications. How do people cope with the twist of history and sudden status of alien in the country they call, in fact, a homeland? In our studies of lives we combine oral history approach and narrative analysis of life story interviews to reveal complicated memories, ambivalent feelings and conflicting identities of those whose country of residence changed so radically.

Date
May 29, 2019 — May 30, 2019
Location
Londona (Apvienotā Karaliste)

Rīkotāji - Centre for Work and Employment, The University of Greenwich/ Centre for Narrative Research, University of East London / Feminist Research Group, University of East London / Thomas Coram Research Unit, UCL Institute of Education

Simpozijs Londona

Related