Feature-aligned N-BEATS with Sinkhorn divergence (ICLR '24)
Labor Migrants’ Discontent
1. Macro Conditions of Class and Micro
Patterns of Social Interaction:
the Problem of Studying Labor Migrants’
Discontent in the Time of Economic
Instability
XVIII ISA World Congress, Research Committee on Sociology of Migration, RC 31
Yokohama, Japan, July 15, 2014
Andrey V. Rezaev,
Natalya D. Tregubova
Valentin S. Starikov
Dmitry M. Zhikharevich
Comparative Sociology Department,
St. Petersburg State University, Russia
anrezaev@yandex.ru
natalya.tr@mail.ru
2. The paper presents an on-going research Project developed at
the Chair of Comparative Sociology at St. Petersburg State
University.
The aim of the Project is to reposition a study of ‘discontent’ in
the framework of sociological research, to formulate theoretical
and methodological foundations, and to elaborate techniques
and methods for gathering data on this phenomenon.
No doubts that “Labor Migrants” have been and will be in the
center of attention for sociologists.
It’s not so obvious when we try to define the boundaries for
professionals who study the phenomenon of “discontent”.
The Project starts by assuming that Sociologists, (not only
psychologists) can and should foster a debate about the
conditions, a possibility and realities of Discontent.
3. OVERVIEW
Parameters of the “Problem”
What exactly we mean when we say “The Problem of
Studying Labor Migrants’ Discontent”
• First, “the problem” includes the question of whether
“discontent” has something to do with the sociological
inquiry? or it’s just a target for psychologists?
• Second, the problem of measurement. How to measure
‘discontent’ of migrants in the field research?
• Third, the very notion of ‘migrants”. What would be the
sound definition of “migrants”?
• Forth, economic instability. What exactly does it mean?
4. AGENDA FOR THE
PRESENTATION:
Our presentation has basically two foci:
theoretical and practical.
Natalya Tregubova, PhD student at the Chair of
Comparative Sociology, will talk about theoretical
orientation for our Proejct
Valentin Starikov, PhD student, will continue with a
description of the field research
Finally, I will take again a minute or two to do a sort
of summuary
5. OBJECTIVES
• To outline a problem of discontent in
relation to transnational migration
processes in contemporary world
• To put the phenomenon of discontent
in a sociological framework
• To discuss problems and potentials of
the model for empirical research
6. The post-communist period of Russia provides a
fruitful terrain for the study of migration by
challenging well-established paths in this area in
favor of new paradigms in social science.
Labor migrants are still in a high demand;
their conditions in accepting community are
highly vulnerable.
What's the experience of labor
migrant's uncertain condition?
7. THEORETICAL PROBLEMS
AND CHALLENGES
What are the ways to put
discontent in a sociological
framework?
Theoretical foundations:
•Everyday life sociology (Peter Sztompka)
•Interaction ritual theory (Randal Collins)
•Theory of class emotions (Jack Barbalet)
8. WORKING DEFINITION
Discontent is a
1) shared
2) long-term emotion, determined
by the structural conditions
produced and transmitted through
the processes of social interaction,
3) with a capability to result into
collective action.
10. Two sides of discontent
Macro-patterns of class:
Emotional dimension of inequality
Inequality in dynamic: trade cycles
Micro-patterns of interaction:
Balance of emotional energy:
between apathy and collective action
Focus on the negative sacred objects
11. Two phases of the Research project:
•Emergence of long-term collective
discontent;
•Sustainability of collective
discontent
12. The research was conducted in 2013- 14 years in Saint Petersburg,
Moscow, Samara, Saratov, Orenburg.
Mix of qualitative (ethnographic) and quantitative
methods:
• 40 in-depth interviews with migrants of diverse
backgrounds (Saint Petersburg, Moscow);
• Survey of 160 migrants (Saint Petersburg,
Moscow, Samara, Orenburg);
• Participatory observation of 2 mixed groups
(Saint Petersburg, Moscow);
13. Questions on the first phase:
Does the collective emotion of discontent exist
in migrants’ network?
What are the sacred objects of discontent?
Is it possible to shift from short-term emotions
to long-term discontent?
14. we detected three potential
sources of discontent:
• poor/bad working conditions;
• interactions with the authorities;
• ‘vulgar behavior’ of the host
community residents
15. •Discontent towards local authorities is
particularized;
•Discontent towards local community is
generalized;
• Presence / absence of shared discontent
depends on overlapping (Moscow) /
diversification (Saint Petersburg) of
interaction groups at work and place of
residence.
16. CONCLUDING
REMARKS/QUESTIONS
•It’s very challenging of studying discontent as a
sociobehavioral phenomenon empirically.
• How basic sociological categories - status,
power, justice – can be used for studying
discontent?
• Are there carries of discontent in a society?
•Is it possible to measure these
carriesdeterminants ? Is it possible to do it
mathematically?
•What are the types of societies where discontent
can be eliminatedminimized?
