Migrants and Muscovites : the boundaries of belonging in Moscow, 1971-2002

This dissertation examines Soviet and post-Soviet Russian attempts to control temporary labor migration to Moscow from 1971 to 2002. Under both the Soviet command economy and the Russian capitalist one, Moscow faced a chronic shortage of workers to fill unskilled, physically demanding positions in the industrial, construction, and transportation sectors. By analyzing how the Office for the Use of Labor Resources in Moscow regulated migration to the capital, I elucidate how the boundaries of belongings in Moscow shifted in conjunction with larger economic and demographic concerns. Soviet policy required that all residents of Moscow (as well as other cities) apply for a residency permit and provide proof of a job before relocating. Russian authorities adapted this policy, requiring all residents---including visitors--to announce their presence with the policy.