Intercultural dynamics in urban periphery: Ex-Soviet Immigrants’ encounter with Mizrahi Israelis across generations

In most western democracies, waves of mass migration entail uneasy intercultural encounters between native majorities and newcomers. Despite the universal nature of these interactions on the ground, there is paucity of micro-sociological and ethnographic research that documents and interprets these encounters ‘from below’. This essay explores the evolving relations between ex-Soviet immigrants and veteran Mizrahi Jews who have shared for over three decades residential communities in Israel’s geo-social periphery. Following mass immigration of (ex)Soviet Jews to Israel during the 1990s, by now this intercultural encounter spans three generations. Drawing upon her previous qualitative research (foregrounded by relevant macro-level data), the author reflects on the mechanisms of intergroup relations as part of migrant acculturation and gradual inclusion in the local context. Beginning from mutual hostility and social distancing among Gen 1.0 ‘Russians’ and Mizrahim, the younger cohorts manifested gradual mutual acceptance. Integration paths taken by ‘Russian’ Gens 1.5 and 2.0 were clearly gendered. Girls and young women often opted for cultural mimicry, adopting Mizrahi habitus in self-presentation, dress, and leisure. Boys and young men were typically prone to ‘Russian’ ethnic retention and forcefully resisted violence of their Mizrahi peers at school and in the streets. Over time, conflicts subsided, replaced by mutual inclusion and cultural cooptation. These time- and generation-based dynamics reflected mutual pragmatic interests in coexistence with the Other, supplemented by exchange of valuable material and symbolic resources. The findings offer a novel perspective for exploring the effects of diversity on social cohesion ‘on the ground’, calling for more comparative research.