Let's Have More Russian Babies How Anti-Immigrant Sentiment Shapes Family Policy in Russia

This paper presents evidence of the relationship between xenophobia and pronatalist family policies in contemporary Russia. I argue that popular anti-immigrant moods pressure government into providing a more generous family policy package to appease the native population. Findings are based on elite interviews with Russian policymakers, bureaucrats, and Russian social scientists, as well as content analysis of mass media.  I show that xenophobia is widespread in Russia among public and policymakers alike and find that the popular anti-immigrant sentiment is skillfully manipulated for political gain by legislators and pundits. Negative statements about immigrants were used in electoral campaign, in debates connected to the future of Russia’s population, and on Parliamentary floor during discussions about family benefits.