Emigration from closed administrative-territorial formations of the nuclear industry in the 1990s: trends and consequences

Abstract

The article examines the emigration of residents of the closed administrative-territorial formations (ZATO) of the nuclear industry in the 1990s. The methodological basis of the research was formed by the basic principles of scientific historical research - the principles of objectivity and historicism. Particular attention waspaid to the trends in emigration processes, the structure of the outgoing flow, directions of departure. It was shown that the radical modernizing transformations of the late 20th century led to the fact that the inhabitants of Russia, including closed cities, were fully involved in global processes of international migration. As a result of the study, it was revealed that in the 1990s, emigration from the closed administrative territories of the nuclear industry was relatively limited in scale. The emigration flow reached its peak in 1996, after which it began to decline. During the period under study, about 60% of ZATO residents emigrated for the purpose of permanent residence abroad. Mostly young people (up to forty years old) left the country. Dissatisfaction with the possibilities of realizing creative and scientific potential has led to intellectual emigration («brain drain»).

Keywords

• closed cities
• closed administrative-territorial unit
• emigration from russia
• resettlement
• brain drain
• intellectual emigration
• youth migration
• nuclear industry