Internal Migration and Integration: The Work and Social Experiences of Buryats in Moscow

This thesis examines the internal migration of Buryats from the Republic of Buryatia to Moscow and explores their social and work experiences in the urban context. Building on theories of migration, assimilation, and integration, the study situates ethnic identity and belonging within broader socio-political and center–periphery dynamics in post-Soviet Russia. Historical and contemporary migration patterns are analyzed, highlighting the push and pull factors shaping mobility from Buryatia. Using a qualitative research design, the study draws on interviews with Buryat migrants to investigate experiences of social perception, inclusion, and adaptation in Moscow. It examines how Buryats negotiate their ethnic and regional identities and adjust to professional and everyday urban environments. The findings illuminate the intersection of ethnicity, class, and gender in shaping migration experiences and contribute to understanding internal migration, integration processes, and minority identity in contemporary Russia.