A Closer Look at Citizenship: Social Engagement of “Russian Germans” in Bavaria

This article draws on ethnographic research with ‘Russian Germans’ in Bavaria who engage in full-time or voluntary work as administrative counsellors for Ukrainian refugees, unravelling perceptions of citizenship and integration in the context of the current war. It is not uncommon for ‘Russian Germans’ to be presented negatively on social media: as ‘AfD voters’ or ‘Putin supporters’. I would like to break down the homogenising negative image of this group and instead offer a differentiated picture. Their social engagement, which is articulated and practised in everyday life, changes the positioning of the group in different respects. It expands the participation in social processes that are important for the country. Furthermore, it broadens the political field of action of individual ‘Russian-German’ citizens in the form of participation, shaping ‘integration policy’ in Germany. Drawing on field notes and two vignettes, the article points to how participants depoliticise their role and the use of the Russian language, framing their work as ethical citizenship for the common good. The conversations described also draw attention to the ‘uncanny’ intimacy produced by practices such as gift-giving, in the interface between German and post-Soviet cultural expectations of institutional encounters.