Cancel Culture in Russia: From Rejection to Limited Application?

The article deals with the evolving attitudes towards cancel culture in Russia, a phenomenon that originated in the West. Until recently, negative assessments prevailed, largely due to several features inherent in cancel culture. Notably, among these are fear; the spread of alienation up to direct betrayal by colleagues, relatives, and acquaintances; self-affirmation at the expense of victims; and practices of public self-deprecation. Another reason was Russia’s own historical experience of cancel culture, which fostered a wary and negative attitude towards it. The dominant view of cancel culture in Russia contributes to the overlooking of some of its key aspects, as well as the uncritical reception of exaggerated critiques from Western right-wing conservative (“republican”) reviewers. There are serious premises at the heart of Western cancel culture that cannot be eliminated in any society where double standards exist. Cancel culture directs its attention toward the powerful and wealthy, from media figures to brands and companies. In this regard, it has a distinctly egalitarian and democratic aspect. In Russia, assessments of cancel culture have recently shifted from being overwhelmingly negative to more moderately positive. For example, the cancellation of concerts by certain artists for their real or perceived anti-patriotism is framed as the application of cancel culture to them, with Russian civil society involved. The justifications for these actions resemble those seen in the West. Appeals to the democratic aspect of cancel culture, which were previously met with skepticism, are now emerging. In this form, cancel culture may be seem by the political elite as a safe and controllable phenomenon. However, the author of the article believes within the Russian context, the moral and other costs associated with the spread of cancel culture seem unacceptable. 

Keywords: cancel culture, civil society, freedom of speech, double standards, moral costs