Intergenerational Dynamics among Russian-Speaking Anti-War and Pro-Democracy Activists in Germany

Abstract

This essay examines anti-war and pro-democracy activism among migrants who associate themselves with Russia, exploring activism dynamics, various issue fields, and audiences. The study is based on qualitative interviews with migrants-turned-activists and activists-turned-migrants in Germany. While they share broad pro-Ukrainian and anti-regime orientations, they exhibit differences in political vocabulary, practices, and backgrounds. We focus on four distinct fields: transnational human rights activism, migration assistance, adaptation assistance, and humanitarian support for Ukraine. We discuss challenges related to long-term collaboration and the development of inclusive political organizations, which are partially caused by the differences in migration experience and the resources available to migrants of different generations.