Immigration to surviving Soviet Union?

Incognito

Banned
There are plenty of threads about Soviet Union liberalizing economically earlier than OTL and surviving into the 21st century. But recently a thought struck me: if this was to occur, what impact would it have on the Soviet population?

Although the population drain from the region in the 90s may not occur or may not be as bad as OTL, would population pyramid still skew towards middle-aged/older individuals? If so, would Soviet Union try to attract more skilled immigrants to enter the nation? What counties’ citizens would want to immigrate to this hypothetical Soviet union with China-like economic system?

And kind-off related since it (in a way) deals with population: I read in 2 places, once on this site and once in a plot for an alternative history video game, that there was talk in U.S.S.R. of turning Afghanistan into an SSR. Obviously, the 2 sources I got this information from are far from reliable – so has anyone else heard about this proposal?
 

RousseauX

Donor
I doubt there would be too many immigration into the Soviet Union unless living standards raise to parity with western Europe. What you would see is probably internal immigrants from the various SSRs into Russia and the other Slavic SSRs.
 

Incognito

Banned
I doubt there would be too many immigration into the Soviet Union unless living standards raise to parity with western Europe.
I’m not so certain that having western standard of living is a requirement. Sure, Soviet Union may not be the best place to live but there are many people in 3rd world to whom Soviet Union would seem like heaven. If it is easier to immigrate from some 3rd world nation to USSR than to a western nation (say, due to political reasons) than I bet those people would go to USSR.

It makes me wonder how many immigrants could China in its current state potentially attract if it was having a population dilemma similar to Russia or Western nations.
What you would see is probably internal immigrants from the various SSRs into Russia and the other Slavic SSRs.
I heard that this is kind-off happening OTL with significant number of people from former U.S.S.R. immigrating to Russia.
 
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I doubt there would be too many immigration into the Soviet Union unless living standards raise to parity with western Europe. What you would see is probably internal immigrants from the various SSRs into Russia and the other Slavic SSRs.

What is important is not really standard of living, but that the standard of living is higher than wherever the immigrants are coming from, and that there are jobs. If the USSR wants more workers, it would probably be pretty welcoming.
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
Moscow was actually an academic haven for the post-colonial intelligentsia of Africa and much of the developing world. Post-Soviet Russia is actually far more xenophobic than the USSR was. And hey, they're always in the market for folks willing to settle the Siberian steppe!
 
Additionally, if this is somehow done successfully in regards to liberalization(which I doubt) why couldn't it get to the standards of the West?

Seriously, we're talking about a country which has one of the best resource bases on Earth to finance itself, and to encourage industry. Additionally, while it may have demographic problems, it would still have a huge population already to exploit for economic production. Immigration would be the cherry on top to that.

But with that, I could see this Soviet getting to, or near to, the standards of Western Europe if it can do a China. However... it's unlikely to successfully liberalize for reasons I won't get to now but... yeah.
 

Incognito

Banned
Moscow was actually an academic haven for the post-colonial intelligentsia of Africa and much of the developing world. Post-Soviet Russia is actually far more xenophobic than the USSR was. And hey, they're always in the market for folks willing to settle the Siberian steppe!
Yes, but the amount of international students that came and SETTLED DOWN in Soviet Union was IIRC not that big compared to amount of people that immigrate to western nations.
 
Guys, just compare with today immigration from Caucasus, central Asia, North Korea and China to Russia. You would be surprised, but number are pretty big. if surviving USSR had better economy then countries around, and at least a bit more liberty, then why not. Only problem is, In USSR every citizen needed to have identity card. If stopped by policeman you need to show him ours papers. Withouts them you are in troubles. After Hungary occupied Ruthenia in 1939 and after Soviet occupation of eastern Poland a lot of young Ruthenians run to USSR because of prosecution by Hungarians and no possibility to find employment. When finally in USSR, they were sent directly to... GULAG. So everything depends how easy soviet government will go on immigrants, especially illegal.
 
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