This Element explains the historical conditions for the seemingly anomalous presence of people outside of 'their own' Soviet republic and the sometimes- fraught consequences for them and their post-Soviet host countries.
The book explores the dynamics between the Soviet state and its society from the October Revolution in 1917 through the transformative period of Stalin's rise in the late 1920s and early 1930s. It delves into how governmental policies and societal responses shaped each other during these pivotal years, highlighting the complexities of this historical relationship.