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2025. Vol.10. №2.

Rural population of the Volga-Caspian fishing region in the second half of the 19th — early 20th centuries: Features of formation, social structure, specific economic activity

Jul 28 2025

Vinogradov S.V., Eshchenko Yu.G. Rural population of the Volga-Caspian fishing region in the second half of the 19th — early 20th centuries: Features of formation, social structure, specific economic activity // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2025. V.10. №2. P. 83-102.

EDN: ALJDCV

Annotation

The relevance of the study is determined by the growing food problems in the contemporary world. Food shortage stimulates scientific research, including in the historical perspective. The authors emphasize the importance of the Volga-Caspian fishing region for ensuring Russia’s food security. In the period under study, this region was the largest supplier of fish and fish products to the national food market. But only after the abolition of serfdom and successful transformations in the fishing industry under the 1860s Great Reforms, the Volga-Caspian fishing region became attractive for migrants from other regions. In the second half of the 19th — early 20th centuries, fishermen (peasants) were an active force in the development of fish resources in the Volga-Caspian region, since fishing was their main professional activity and source of livelihood. The authors argue that the development model of the Volga-Caspian fishing region contributed to the well-being of its rural population and attracted an increasing number of migrants. However, while encouraging economic activity of fishermen, the state did not take responsibility for health care, education and other social spheres. Many fishing settlements were considered illegal until the early 20th century, and their residents could be evicted from homes at any time.

Keywords

Caspian Sea, Volga-Caspian fishing region, Astrakhan, Volga, rural population, fishermen, fishing, labor migration, trade.

About the authors

Sergey V. Vinogradov, DSC (History), Chief Researcher, Center for the Study of the History of the Lower Volga Region in the Soviet Period; Professor, Department of History, Astrakhan Tatishchev State University. Tatishceva str., 20 Astrakhan, 414056.
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Yuliya G. Eshchenko, PhD (History), Senior Researcher, Center for the Study of the History of the Lower Volga Region in the Soviet Period; Associate Professor, Department of History, Astrakhan Tatishchev State University. Tatishceva str., 20 Astrakhan, 414056.
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Additional Info

2021. Vol.6. №4.

The position of labor migrants in agriculture under the pandemic

Jan 13 2022

Kisliy O. A., Isaeva M. A. The position of labor migrants in agriculture under the pandemic // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2021. V.6. №4. P. 125-135.

DOI: 10.22394/2500-1809-2021-6-4-125-135

Annotation

Many countries face a shortage of labor resources and try to provide agricultural employment by attracting labor migrants from abroad. A ‘review’ of the role of labor migration in the development of agriculture requires a thorough analysis of migration statistics, since illegal migration is widespread, and there are no statistical records on seasonal workers. Therefore, migrants seem to make up an insignificant part of those employed in agriculture. However, the current global situation —the coronavirus pandemic—revealed a shortage of workplaces for labor migrants. In the pre-pandemic period, millions of foreign workers entered the Russian Federation every year. Under the pandemic, to attract migrants to agriculture and food production system of other countries became difficult, which highlighted their important role in the economic development. Therefore, the impact of the pandemic on the foreign labor market entered the agenda of international politics and measures to combat the covid-19 that limited migration, thus, determining a shortage of workers in agriculture and the underestimation of their contribution to national economies of other countries.

Keywords

Migration processes, migration policy, pandemic, covid-19, agriculture, national economy, labor migrants, foreign labor force, labor migration.

About the authors

Oleg A. Kisliy, PhD (Pedagogy), Assistant Professor, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration; Prosp. Vernadskogo, 82 Moscow, 119571.
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Maria A. Isaeva, Officer, Division for Control in the Field of Migration, Main Directorate, Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Moscow 115035, Sadovnicheskaya St., 63, bldg. 7.
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Russian Peasant Studies

Peer-reviewed interdisciplinary academic journal in the field of theoretical and empirical peasant studies, rural sociology, economics and social geography. The journal publishes original works on the issues of socio-economic development of agricultural regions of Russia and the world, the history of the peasantry, including its formation and evolution, particularly from philosophical and cultural studies viewpoints. The journal aims at exploring the paths of Russian and international rural development and supporting cooperation of agrarian researchers representing different scientific disciplines. Read more>

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