Transnational migration as a condition of the possibility of returning (in the case of the Armenian diaspora in the Vologda oblast)

Migration plays an important role in the modern period, as it is a result of the integration of society, a prerequisite for socio-economic and socio-political transformation. Migration is a process: it can help solve the problems of both the recipient country and the donor country. However, there are situations of excessive migration when the donor country loses its demographic and human potential. The Republic of Armenia is in such a situation today, and therefore the issue of return migration is relevant. The purpose of the study is to try to find out whether there is a potential for return migration among migrants. The study is based on the study of the situation of migrants from the Republic of Armenia in Russia and the processes of their integration into the host society. Through the qualitative methodology of sociological analysis (in-depth interviews were conducted in 2019, N = 27), the main directions of socio-cultural adaptation of representatives of the Armenian diaspora formed in the Vologda Oblast are identified. It is concluded that in the region, most of the migrants from Armenia can be considered as transnational migrants who do not lose the potential for return migration. They have successfully adapted to the Russian conditions, they have the necessary resources to integrate into the host community: they speak the language, have a high educational level, professional training. These characteristics preserve for them the possibility of returning to their homeland. Some migrants, as the study has shown, plan to return to their ethnic homeland. They maintain stable family ties, their children and grandchildren live on the territory of the Republic of Armenia. The conducted research contributes to the theoretical understanding of the problem of return migration and the assessment of its potential among transnational migrants. The practical significance of the results obtained lies in the possibility of their use in the process of increasing the effectiveness of state regulation of migration processes, taking into account the role of the diaspora as an institution of social integration. Special attention should be paid to “categorical” repatriation as a way to solve the problems of the Republic of Armenia.