Paper short abstract:

The report examines the functions of mobile social networks in the translocal rural communities of Dagestan which could be the way to organize social rites, transfer information, consolidate the community, provide a power and economic resources as well as the stage for reputation demonstrating.

Paper long abstract:

The report examines the mechanisms of functioning of social networks in the translocal rural communities of Dagestan, North Caucasus, whose members have been participating in labor inner-Russian migration to Moscow and mining centers in Siberia. Huge distances and various socio-cultural and economic differences between sending and receiving societies issue a challenge for the unity of rural community - jamaat. Rural identity is relevant for migrants: they preserve the principle of rural endogamy, bury all the dead migrants in their village, spend money and time for the development of the village, activists create public organizations of fellow villagers. The report will focus on the practice of using mobile social networks - Facebook and its Russian counterparts - by transmigrants, their families and fellow villagers. Mobile communication provide everyday family communication, be an opportunity to organize necessary social rites as finding a bride, matchmaking, passing money for condolences, as well as transferring important information for migrants and those living in the village. Rural chats consolidate the community and even formulate the idea of the unity, and also become a power, violent and economic resources in migration. At the same time, the villagers'chats are the places where the laws of reputation are working especially in the conditions of Islamic revival and religious radicalization in Dagestan, therefore they also carry a danger to migrants, especially for women. In this case, people try to find alternative ways for personal discussions not to fear publicity and condemnation by fellow countrymen and violence from the relatives.