Dealing with the Stigma: The Case of Russian Academics Abroad Affected by War

Our paper focuses on how displaced employees, migrants, and expatriates cope with the stigma of being associated with their home country’s involvement in a crisis. We use Russian academics as a case study. We examine the best coping strategies that displaced employees and expatriates can employ to deal with national stigma. Based on data from 265 surveys and 30 in-depth interviews, we provide readers with a typology of coping strategies: conforming to stigma, consolidating stigma, circumventing stigma, and self-isolation. We also develop a checklist for MNCs, displaced employees, and expatriates on how to navigate the stigmatization process.