Michael Schwirtz View on Russia’s Ethnic Reprisal Essay (Critical Writing)

Abstract

In the November 16, 2011 New York Times article, Michael Schiwirtz discusses the Russian government’s retaliatory expulsion of ethnic Tajik migrant workers from Russia. The Russian government deported more than 300 ethnic Tajik workers. Russia’s Federal Migration Service was tasked to expel the ethnic Tajik workers. In response, the innocent ethic Tajik workers and residents complain they are being unjustly persecuted by the Russian government. The reprisals started when the Tajikistan government incarcerated two Russian pilots. The Tajik worker’s remittances represent 35 % of Tajikistan’s gross domestic production (Kireyev, p. 7). In terms of manner or style, the writer writes excellently to bring out the realities of ethnic discrimination. In terms of emotions, the author vividly describes the animosity of Russia’s expulsion policy on its ethnic Tajikistan population. On the side of Russia, President Medvedev and his political stalwarts’ actions are aimed to force the Tajikistan government to release the Russian pilots. In terms of character, the author correctly shows the strong will of the Tajikistan government to implement its laws. Personally, Tajikistan should bend to the wishes of Russia to release the Russian Pilots. In return, Russia’s expulsion will stop the expulsion. Both governments will come out politically and economically happy.

Analysis of article

Ethnic discrimination is a significant political problem. The research focuses on an article discussing one Russian ethnic conflict. The research focuses on the reasons for Russia’s targeting of ethnic Tajik residents and workers. Russia’s targeting of ethnic Tajik residents and workers can be remedied through diplomacy. The article (Schiwirtz 1) is written in news format style. The reader feels the writer offer facts, not fiction. The story focuses on the Russian political stand to expel ethnic Tajik residents from Russia. The story clearly shows that over one million Tajik migrant worker enter Russia to find jobs. The article indicates the expulsion was sparked by the Tajikistan government’s arrest of Russia’s two airplane pilots. The writer excellently shows the effect of Russia’s expulsion of the ethnic Tajik migrants. The author explains the economic disaster of the expulsion on Tajikistan. The article affects the reader’s mind. The reader feels the report focuses on the delicate political system between two governments. Russia expels the Tajik workers to avenge the detention of their Russian pilots. In response, the Tajikistan government is forced to release the Russian prisoners. The expulsions precipitate from the Tajikistan government’s refusal to release the incarcerated Russian pilots. The pilots should be incarcerated for violating Tajikistan’s laws. The article touches the reader’s emotions. The reader feels the innocent ethnic Tajik residents are discriminated, politically. The innocent ethnic Tajik individuals feel they used as pawns in the continuing political misunderstanding between the two governments. In terms of Tajikistan’s economic picture, the expulsion will trigger a 20 percent decline in Tajikistan’s GDP (Schiller, p. 15). Russia’s political leader, Konstantin Romodanovsky is heartless in leading the severest implementation of Russia’s political reprisal. Schiwirtz (p. 1) correctly mentioned Russian President Medvedev’s rightfully announced “This is a problem that worries a large number of people and, unfortunately, frequently leads to tensions, and even to classes on the basis of ethnic divisions. We cannot close our eyes to this.” The reader feels diplomacy, initiated by Russian President Medvedev, is the best way to resolve the current stalemate. Based on the above discussion, ethnic discrimination is an influential political problem. The Russian government should not target the ethnic Tajik residents and workers for expulsion. The arrest of Russian pilots is correct because Tajikistan’s laws were violated. Indeed, Russia’s targeting of ethnic Tajik residents and workers can be resolved through diplomacy.

Works Cited

1. Kireyev, Alexei. The Macoeconomics of Remittances: The Case of Tajikistan. N.Y.: International Press, 2006. Print
2. Schiller, Bradley. The Economics of Poverty and Discrimination. N.Y.: Irwin Press, 2001. Print
3. Schiwirtz, Michael. “With a Russian in a Tajik Jail, Moscow Aims Its Reprisal at Migrant Workers.” New York Times 2011: LZO1. Print