Migration as factor in political identity and resource for nation-building (experiences of Ukraine and USA)

Abstract

The article examines migration as a factor in the formation of political identity from a comparative perspective. The relevance of the topic is determined by the fact that migration processes, despite their obvious political dimensions, are traditionally analysed predominantly in demographic, economic, or legal contexts, while their impact on state-building and national identity remains insufficiently studied. This issue becomes particularly acute in the context of the large-scale wartime emigration of Ukrainians to Europe, caused by Russia's full-scale aggression. The aim of the study is a comparative analysis of two fundamentally different migration models: the American one, where migration became a conscious civilizational project and an ideological resource for state-building, and the Ukrainian wartime emigration, generated by the destructive exceptionalism of the aggressor state. A juxtaposition of these two models allows for the identification of both common patterns and fundamental differences in the mechanisms of interaction between migration and political identity. The methodological basis comprises comparative-political, historical-genetic, and discursive methods. The scientific novelty lies in the application of the concept of political exceptionalism to the analysis of migration processes, which allows going beyond purely demographic or economic approaches and examining migration as an independent political science phenomenon. The comparative analysis revealed a fundamental distinction between migration as an instrument for constructing identity and migration because of its destruction. The thesis substantiates that the Ukrainian diaspora in Europe, despite the forced nature of its emergence, has the potential to transform into a factor of soft power and an element in the formation of Ukraine's constructive political uniqueness in the world. The findings may prove useful for shaping state policy regarding engagement with the Ukrainian diaspora.