Invisible costs of exiting autocracy: subjective well-being and emotional burnout among Russian wartime migrants

This paper examines the impact of autocratic homelands on the subjective well-being of political emigrants. Drawing on unique survey data comprising 2,567 observations and in-depth interviews with Russian emigrants who left the country following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, we demonstrate that the actions of autocratic homelands contribute significantly to emigrants’ well-being, often surpassing conventional economic and social determinants. Specifically, fear of transnational repression from the Russian government is strongly associated with lower subjective well-being, with effects comparable to those of income loss and unemployment. Even more pronounced negative effects arise from experiences of discrimination and the anticipation of such discrimination due to host-country backlash against the actions of autocratic states. Additionally, feelings of guilt stemming from homeland’s aggression further exacerbate political emigrants’ distress. Autocratic regimes thus continue to exert influence over their citizens abroad by imposing “invisible costs” on political emigrants, contributing to depressive states and activist burnout.