Shanghai's Stateless Immigrants: Anti-Bolshevik Russians in Shanghai from 1917-1949

Following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, thousands of anti-Bolshevik (commonly referred to as White Russians) fled to the city of Shanghai. Shanghai’s status as a free port with very few strict immigration laws facilitated their arrival and allowed them to reside within the city's foreign settlements. The city's complexities and the Russians' status within the city also exposed them to vulnerabilities, including poverty, discrimination, and the eventual geopolitical shifts that led to their ultimate displacement. Despite the issues that many faced, White Russians contributed to Shanghai’s cultural and economic life, opening up schools, religious institutions, businesses, and newspapers that maintained ties to Russian identity and their former homeland. The White Russian community in Shanghai contributed largely to Shanghai’s city life and maintained a strong transnational relationship between both Russia and China. Part of the panel: Creating Space: Community in Unlikely Places Moderator: Professor Richard Beyler