Bridging and Bonding Online Russian-speaking Migrants in the United Kingdom and Their Social Networks

The chapter builds on the academic discussion regarding the extension of diasporic networks into digital space and contributes to ongoing debates on “echo chambers” and “digital ghettos”. These kinds of networks are being created through use of languages from countries of origin in online communication across diaspora. Drawing on recent research, the chapter focuses on digital communication in Russian as a particular vehicle for establishing transnational networks; the chapter provides insights into some of the ways in which a “British Russian” identity has emerged over time through digital communication among migrants via Russian-language networks. Russian (as a heritage language) was one the most valuable resources for the mobilization of social and cultural capital, and it served as a means of engaging in cultural translation. The research into the communicative practices in these digital networks was qualitative in nature. The data was collected in a number of online forums, Facebook groups, and personal websites as well as via the Google Trends tool. Migrants’ networking strategies were examined in order to ascertain whether the patterns of online communication established a bond between members of existing networks, creating digital ghettoes, or whether they served as a means of familiarizing migrants with new, local, host country–based networks.