Migration Processes in Central Asia Through the Lens of Local and Foreign Researchers

Abdullayev Jamshid Izzatullayevich

doi:10.37547/ijhps/Volume05Issue06-02

International Journal Of History And Political Sciences

6

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VOLUME

Vol.05 Issue06 2025

PAGE NO.

6-11

DOI

10.37547/ijhps/Volume05Issue06-02

Migration Processes in Central Asia Through the Lens of
Local and Foreign Researchers

Abdullayev Jamshid Izzatullayevich

Lecturer at Denov Institute of Entrepreneurship and Pedagogy, Uzbekistan

Received:

12 April 2025;

Accepted:

08 May 2025;

Published:

10 June 2025

Abstract:

This article is devoted to the historiography of migration processes in the countries of Central Asia. It

also analyzes the causes and factors of migration in the Republics of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan based on the scientific research and theories proposed by local, Russian, and foreign
scholars.

Keywords:

Migration, Central Asia, emigration, Voluntary Return and Reintegration Program (VRRP),

demography, labor migration, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan.

Introduction:

Migration processes play a significant

role in the contemporary life of Central Asian countries.
They directly or indirectly affect various spheres of
public life in the republics. This influence can lead to
both positive and negative consequences. Migration is
one of the major phenomena of the 21st century. New
migration trends have emerged under the conditions of
globalization, producing various impacts. Labor
migration is one of the prevailing trends across all
regions, including Central Asia. Labor migration in
Central Asia encompasses Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. In general,
research and analysis of migration processes in the 21st
century, their historical development, and future
implications have been and continue to be conducted
in the region. For example, according to M.E. Leontyev,
a researcher from Saratov State University, in his article

“Immigration from Central Asian Countries: History and
Modernity”, migration exchange between Russia and

Central Asian countries declined in the early years of
independence. For instance, immigration from
Uzbekistan to Russia decreased more than threefold
from 150,000 people in 1994 to 48,000 in 2000.
Simultaneously, the one-way migration flow that had
emerged in the early 1990s became entrenched: in
2000, the reverse flow from Russia constituted only 12
percent of the direct flow into Russia, whereas in 1991
it accounted for one-third [13].

METHODS

In conducting this study, several academic methods
were employed, including historical-comparative
analysis, comparative approach, systematic analysis,
and chronological consistency. The issue of migration
processes in Central Asia has been studied by various
scholars since the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
These include Russian researchers such as G.Yu.
Sitnyanskiy, V.I. Bushkov, V. Schensnovich, and Sergey
Abashin; local researchers such as R.A. Ubaydullaeva,
A.S. Soliev, Kamoluddin Abdullaev, R. Beybutova, and Z.
Dadaboyeva; as well as foreign scholars like Giorgi
Khishtovani. Their works and articles have focused on
migration processes in the region. In local studies,
migration is often presented based on state ideology,
which creates challenges in presenting an unbiased
view of the issue. In contrast, Russian and foreign
researchers tend to study the issue in a more objective
academic manner.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Valuable insights into the current state of migration
history in the Central Asian countries can be found in
the work by Russian researchers G. Yu Sitnyanskiy and

V. I. Bushkov titled “Migrations of the Population in
Central Asia: Past, Present, and Future” [11, p. 340].

This monograph examines migration processes
occurring in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan) and the

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movement of the region's population beyond its
borders. A historical overview of migration in the

region is provided, with comparisons between “local”
and “non

-

local” populations

(particularly Russian-

speaking groups). The authors analyze the current state
of migration, including the legal status of migrants and
their adaptation processes. The book is of interest to
ethnologists, sociologists, historians, and a broader
readership concerned with this topic. According to this
monograph, from the late 1980s to 2002, nearly 4
million people in Central Asia and Kazakhstan became
external migrants.

One of the well-argued analytical works on the
contemporary ethnopolitical landscape and conditions

of the Republic of Uzbekistan is the book “Uzbekistan:

Ethnopolitical

Panorama:

Essays,

Documents,

Materials” by the ethnologist A. I. Gindzburg, a

researcher at the Miklukho-Maklay Institute of
Ethnology [7, p. 16].

The development of political regimes in Central Asian
countries after independence is studied in the textbook

“Central Asia at the Turn of the 20th–

21st Centuries:

Politics, Economy, Security”, authored by researchers

of Ural State University

—

V. D. Kaminin, E. V. Lazareva,

M. V. Lapenko, and A. V. Lyamzin [12, p. 175]. This
publication examines the distinctive features of the
sociocultural policies and economies of the Central
Asian republics following the collapse of the USSR, as
well as their security relations with Russia.

The migration situation in Uzbekistan, including its
historical and developmental aspects, has also been
addressed by Uzbek scholar Khafiza Mamadalieva in
her article. The study outlines the specific

characteristics of Uzbekistan’s population reproduction

regime and the new demographic trends that have
emerged in recent years. The article highlights changes
in the age and gender structure of the population that
predefine the size of the labor force. Moreover, it
explores how demographic factors shape many critical
ar

eas of the republic’s socio

-economic development

and influence the formation of labor migration flows.
According to the researcher, given Uzbekistan's current
demographic situation, significant labor emigration to
foreign countries, especially to Russia, can be expected
shortly. Labor migration will continue to ensure relative
stability in the labor market and generate cash
remittances, thereby contributing to the improvement
of living standards for the population of Uzbekistan
[14].

In general, Uzbekistan has demonstrated relatively
substantial engagement in the study of demographic
processes. Within the historiography of Uzbek
demography, these processes are regarded as social

phenomena in which the changing nature of population
reproduction at the current stage of development is
examined. Particular attention is paid to the role of
state demographic policy in shaping the reproductive
behavior of the population and the directions of
development of social policy. Notable among the
researchers in this field are R.A. Ubaydullaeva, L.P.
Maksakova, A.S. Soliev, Z.N. Tojiev, X. Mamadalieva,
and others.

Fundamental works by Russian scholars that explore
the diverse aspects of population migration have also
played a significant role in the formation and
development of migration studies as a scientific
discipline. These include, first and foremost, L.L.

Rybakovsky’s work Factors and Causes of Migration of

the Population and the Mechanism of Their

Interrelation [9], and S.V. Ryazantsev’s Labour

Migration to Russia: Myths and Counterarguments
[10], among others.

In Uzbekistan, for many years, the issue of migration,
especially labor migration, did not receive sufficient
attention from the state. Until 2006, there were
virtually no academic articles dedicated to labor
migration. Among the early and important works are

L.P. Maksakova’s Migration of the Population of

Uzbekistan (1986), Migration of the Population:
Problems of Regulation (2000), and the monograph
Migration and Labor Markets in the Countries, which
holds a significant place in the literature.

In recent years, attention to issues of population
migration has increased significantly. Regarding
migration problems in Central Asia

—

particularly in

Kazakhstan

—

partial research has also been carried out

by Y. Sadovskaya and A. Veshkurova [6, p. 126].
Moreover, scientific articles and studies on the current
state of migration have been conducted in English. For
instance, the article Migration Processes in Central
Asia: Main Directions and Key Issues of Regional
System, authored by scholars from Al-Farabi National
University in Kazakhstan, addresses debates about the
formation and functioning of the regional migration
system. The article examines key questions concerning
the roles of sending and receiving countries within
Central Asia, as well as the specific role of Russia and
Kazakhstan in regional migration dynamics [4].

Addressing the issue of migration in Central Asian
countries

in

conjunction

with

development

perspectives implies a need to understand the role of
local governments in migration policy, the support
mechanisms for migrants, the protection of migrant
rights, and the evolving dynamics of intergovernmental
communication on migration issues. These topics are
reflected in a brief study by CAREC Institute researcher

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Giorgi Khishtovani titled Reviewing Migration and
Development: The Role of Local Authorities of Central
Asia [5, p. 54].

Furthermore, considerable scholarly attention has also
been given to migration during the Soviet period. One
such contribution is by the Tajik historian Kamoluddin
Abdullaev. His article provides a historiographical
analysis of English-language studies devoted to the
history of emigration from Central Asia to neighboring
Eastern countries during the first two decades of Soviet
rule [15].

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in
Ukraine on migration processes in Central Asia has
been briefly analyzed in the article by K. Maslanov and
D. Tarasova, titled "Migration Flows from Central Asian
Countries: New Challenges and Opportunities" [8].
According to the authors, the consequences of the
events in Ukraine have altered the flow of migrants.
Considering the interest of most Central Asian
countries

—

namely Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and to a

lesser extent, Kyrgyzstan

—

in diversifying migration

flows, the development of migration towards Europe
may become increasingly active in the coming years.
Western sanctions against Russia have led to a sharp
decrease in remittances sent home by labor migrants

—

remittances that have long served as a primary source
of income and food security for many households in
these three republics.

Russian researcher V. Schensnovich, in his analytical
study "Migration Features of Central Asian Countries"
[16], has examined the peculiar characteristics of
migration processes in the region. The article suggests
that the migratory exchange between Tajikistan and
various regions of Russia affects the ethnic composition
of the local populations. In Kazakhstan, where
educational migration and highly skilled labor
resources are more developed, transformational
movements towards other countries are taking place.
In Kyrgyzstan, the population's migratory exchange
with neighboring states has decreased, while it has
increased with several countries outside the CIS. At the
current stage, the regulation of external labor
migration in Uzbekistan is necessitated by the presence
of surplus labor resources.

Among the research works dealing with solutions to
this issue, several other sources are worth noting.
These include the works of Russian researcher A.
Avdashkin and local scholars such as Z. Dadaboyeva, A.
Jooshbekova, and Sh. Isakulov, who has analyzed
various aspects of migration. Migration issues in
Central Asia are also partially covered in the article by
Kyrgyz scholar R. Beybutova [3]. In this article, topics
such as ethnic migration and labor migration are

partially addressed. The author focuses on post-
independence migration dynamics in Kyrgyzstan and
also highlights the issue of illegal migration. According
to her, the absence of strict passport control at the
borders makes it easy to cross the Kyrgyz border using
forged documents. This situation, in turn, transforms
the country into a haven for various destabilizing
elements, such as religious and criminal groups.

According to the works of Russian economist and
migration researcher Azganush Migranyan, the study of
the main directions of socio-demographic development
in Central Asian countries is intrinsically linked to active
migration processes. In her article on this topic, the
main trends in migration processes in these countries
are analyzed. Contradictions in migration regulation
are examined, and the social indicators affected by
migration are analyzed, including the dynamics of
remittance flows and their impact on the standard of
living of the population [20].

Migration issues are also discussed in the 2020

publication

“Return

Migration:

International

Approaches and Regional Specificities of Central Asia”

[21]. This academic manual was prepared by a team of
authors conducting research in six countries:
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. According to
the manual, the scale of labor migration from Central
Asia is considerable: between 2.7 and 4.2 million
people (amounting to 10 to 16 percent of the
economically active population) work abroad

—

in the

Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Turkey, the Republic
of Korea, and many other countries. The book provides
examples of how the potential of returning migrants
has been utilized effectively, along with the challenges
these returnees face upon reentering their home
countries.

The

book

consists

of

four

chapters

that

comprehensively address the issue of return migration.
These chapters are logically structured, transitioning
from theory to practice. The first chapter, titled "Return
Migration in Contemporary Conditions," explores the
theoretical aspects of return migration, including
classifications and definitions, as well as the objectives
and responsibilities of states in implementing return
migration programs.

The second chapter, "Legal Foundations of Return
Migration," examines international and regional legal
documents related to return migration. It also discusses
the legal bases of Voluntary Return and Reintegration
Programs (VRRPs) and assesses their potential in the
region.

The third chapter, "Conditions and Specificities of
Return Migration in Central Asia," reveals the unique

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demographic and migratory characteristics of the
region, along with the causes and trends of return
migration in Central Asian countries. This chapter also
elaborates on the economic and socio-demographic
impact of return migration, the adaptation and
reintegration challenges faced by returnees, and the
role of diasporas in the return migration potential of
the region.

Finally, the chapter "Managing Return Migration and
the Development of VRRPs in Central Asia" discusses
the mechanisms of migration policy and the
implementation of return migration within the
framework

of

strategies

for

socio-economic

development and employment promotion in the
countries of the region. It also emphasizes the role of
civil society institutions in the development of return
migration and VRRPs in Central Asian countries.

Among local researchers who have addressed the issue
of international migration are D. Ikromov and I. Isroilov.
In addition, the Russian scholar Sergey Abashin has also
expressed his views on this topic [1].

In his article on migration in Uzbekistan, Uzbek
researcher Bobur Khonturaev presents relevant
information on the topic [17]. The article analyzes the
external migration of Uzbek citizens to distant foreign
countries, including forms such as official permanent
emigration, official temporary emigration, unofficial
emigration, ecological emigration, and intellectual
immigration. The migration of Uzbek citizens to CIS
countries is studied separately in the following forms:
labor migration (gastarbeiters and hired workers);
official permanent migration (citizenship acquisition);
temporary ethnic migration (working in the ethnic
homeland); and intellectual migration (researchers,
scientists, students).

Researcher Shahnoza Sultanova, in her article,
discusses the concept of population migration, its
socio-economic problems, and the political, legal, and
global challenges of poverty and destitution in both the
world and Uzbekistan during the pandemic. The article
also presents logical perspectives on eliminating
poverty and destitution through ensuring employment,
developing entrepreneurship, and strengthening the
economy [18].

In his article “The Role of Labor Migration in the
Economy of Uzbekistan” [19], local researcher Farrukh

Asraqulov highlights the causes behind migration
processes in Uzbekistan and their development across
regions. He also emphasizes the importance of
ensuring peace, security, and stability on a global scale
in the context of globalization.

The article “Population Migration in Uzbekistan” [2]

addresses the geographic position of the Republic of

Uzbekistan, its status in the global community,
migration flows, urbanization, the composition of
urban and rural populations, and the number of cities.
It covers the current state of migration processes,
offers proposals, and identifies areas requiring greater
attention.

The issue of ethnic migration and its impact on the
ethnic composition of the population in the Central
Asian states is also discussed in detail in a special article
by Russian researcher T. Smirnova [22]. The study
covers the period from the dissolution of the USSR to
the present day. During this period, migration between
Russia and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and
Uzbekistan has had a significant impact on the ethnic
composition of the population. As a result of intense
migration processes in the Central Asian countries, the
number and proportion of titular ethnic groups have
increased, while the share of Russians, Ukrainians,
Germans, and other ethnic groups has sharply declined.
In the Russian Federation, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, and
Uzbek diasporas have emerged. The article provides
data on the number and geographical distribution of
these ethnic groups in Russia and the Central Asian
states.

It is worth noting that in the Republic of Tajikistan, the
issue of migration has been scarcely studied in
academic circles, particularly in terms of methodology
and within the framework of political science. The
interest of local researchers in the problems of
migration processes only began to emerge in the
1990s, following the collapse of the USSR. Publications
by G. N. Zokirov, R. Ulmasov, I. Isroilov, M. Sh.
Mahmadbekov, R. Mirsaidov, E. A. Nazarov, K. Odinaev,
and others have focused on the political aspects of
migration processes.

One of the notable academic works on migration
movements in Tajikistan is the dissertation by

Moyonsho Mahmadbekov titled “Migration Processes:

Essence, Main Trends, and Their Features in Modern

Society: The Experience of Tajikistan”, in which the

author attempts to analyze migration issues in
Tajikistan in the second part of the study [23].
According to the author, a distinctive feature of labor
migration in the Republic of Tajikistan is that it is both
a cause and a consequence of the transformations that
began in the country after gaining independence. In the
global context of migration, such a dual but crucial role
is not a new phenomenon in the historical
development of society. In turn, under conditions of a
changing society, this particular feature of labor
migration in the Republic of Tajikistan has contributed
to the development of new forms of labor migration,
the transformation of its functions and significance,
and a political reassessment of migration processes.

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Among Uzbek scholars, researchers such as E. M.
Muhiddinov, S. A. Ishanxodjaev, L. Kh. Isakov, and Sh. T.
Tilyabaeva has studied the impact of migration on
Uzbekistan, focusing on the social, legal, and political
consequences of this phenomenon. In his academic
investigations, F. Ya. Parmanov has examined the social
factors influencing the transformation of migration
processes and has emphasized the importance of
improving the efficiency of institutions responsible for
managing migration activities.

Furthermore, scholars such as D. A. Majidova, D. Gh.
Khusanova, A. A. Bozarov, B. A. Akbarov, N. Kh.
Zokhitova, M. Sh. Yakhnyayeva, N. M., Saydalieva, D.
Muydinov, and S. Alimov have explored the socio-
psychological aspects of supporting and reintegrating
labor migrants and have provided scientific and
practical recommendations [24].

Some issues related to labor migration in Uzbekistan
during the years of independence are also discussed in
the collection "Labor Migration in the Republic of

Uzbekistan" (Трудовая миграция в Республике
Узбекистан) [2

5]. This volume includes articles and

studies prepared by leading experts in the field,
focusing on both internal and external labor migration
in Uzbekistan. Most of the published materials
summarize the results of sociological surveys
conducted in Uzbekistan in 2006

–

2007 on internal and

external

migration

issues,

and

provide

recommendations for improving the regulation of
migration processes and ensuring the rights of labor
migrants. A significant part of the research is devoted
to the gender aspects of labor migration.

In the course of the study, it is noted that Kazakhstan
and the Central Asian countries are the main migration
donors to Russia, and that Central Asia has accounted
for two-thirds of migration growth to Russia, mainly
during the post-Soviet period, with the contributions of
Kazakhstan and Central Asia being approximately
equal.

The issue of labor migration in Central Asia is also
addressed in the research of Russian scholar Zhanna
Zayonchkovskaya, in her work entitled "Labor
Migration in the CIS Countries: A Means of Adapting to
Economic Crisis and a Source of New Challenges. Main
Results of Cross-

Country Studies" (Трудовая миграция

в

странах

СНГ:

средство

адаптации

к

экономическому кризису и источник новых
вызовов.

Главные

итоги

межстрановых

исследований) [26]. The author largely attempts to

defend labor migration from groundless criticisms and
to provide reliable evidence demonstrating its
significant social role during periods of crisis. In the
second stage, risks associated with labor migration

were also examined. Overall, the study attempts to
provide a comprehensive characterization of the
process.

The article "Problems of External Labor Migration of

the Population in Central Asian Countries" (Проблемы
внешней трудовой миграции населения стран
Центральной Азии) by U. J. Ergeshbayev, a researcher

at Osh State University, examines the main features of
the current state of labor migration from Central Asian
countries to Russia [27]. The main sources of labor
migration from the region are three countries:
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. According to
various estimates, by the end of 2005, there were
between 1.8 and 3.5 million labor migrants from
Central Asia, with nine-tenths of them originating from
the aforementioned countries. Specialized research on
this topic is gradually being developed.

In the article "Modernization of the Institutional
System for Managing Labor Migration Processes"

(Модернизация

институциональной

системы

управления процессами трудовой миграции) by

Uzbek researcher Farhod Parmanov, methodological
recommendations and practical proposals are
presented on organizing the modernization of the
institutional system responsible, directly or indirectly,
for the optimization of labor migration processes by

Uzbekistan’s “Action Strategy” for 2017–

2021 [28].

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, it should be emphasized that migration
processes in Central Asian countries are influenced by
a complex set of socio-economic, political, and cultural
factors. The dissolution of the Soviet Union marked a
turning point in the ethnic structure of the region, with
significant demographic shifts due to the mass
emigration of non-titular ethnic groups and the
consolidation of titular nations. While local scholars
have contributed valuable insights, their studies often
reflect a nation-centered and ideologically influenced
perspective. In contrast, foreign research tends to offer
relatively objective assessments, yet relying solely on
external theoretical frameworks can limit context-
specific understanding.

Therefore, it is crucial to develop interdisciplinary
approaches that synthesize local empirical data with
global theories, allowing for a more comprehensive and
balanced analysis of migration dynamics. Future
research should focus on the long-term socio-political
consequences of migration, the evolving role of
diasporas, and the integration strategies of migrant
populations. Moreover, regional cooperation among
Central Asian countries and partnerships with
international academic institutions are essential for
developing sustainable migration policies rooted in

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mutual understanding and shared development goals.

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