Phenomenon of Multiculturalism and Ethnic Diversity of Urban Societies of Southern Caucasus, the Case of Tiflis/Tbilisi

This Master's thesis is devoted to the analysis of the phenomenon of multiculturalism in 19th century Tiflis, based on the study of Russian travel literature. The research focuses on the ethnic, cultural, and confessional diversity of urban society, as well as on how this diversity was interpreted by Russian observers in the context of the imperial policies of the Russian Empire in the Caucasus. The theoretical framework of the study is based on the concept of orientalism, taking into account its Russian specificity, and on the semiotic approach developed by Yuri Lotman. The thesis examines urban space, social structure, everyday rituals of the inhabitants, and forms of coexistence among different ethnic and religious groups, with attention to the opposition between Old and New Tiflis. Methodologically, the research employs analytical and comparative approaches and draws on travel literature, contemporary statistical data, administrative documents, and periodical press. As a result, Tiflis is interpreted as a dynamic multicultural city whose image in 19th century Russian discourse was shaped by orientalist representations and processes of imperial modernization.