Cancel Culture as a Tool in the Struggle of Mnemonic Security Regimes

The purpose of this article is to identify the specifics of cancel culture in the context of politics of memory. To achieve this, the author addresses the following objectives: a) to theoretically justify the use of the concept of “mnemonic security regime” as a tool for analyzing cancel culture as a new form of social ostracism, b) to examine the functioning of mnemonic security regimes in the context of digitalization. Based on an analysis of scientific literature on memory regimes and international regime theories, the author concludes that a mnemonic security regime is a political project incorporating symbols of the past, built on formal and informal institutions that limit the actions of actors to achieve long-term good. It is emphasized that in the context of the decline of “global” memory culture, antagonistic mnemonic security regimes dominate, with cancel culture becoming a key tool in the struggle between alternative projects of the past. The article highlights several features of modern reality that influence the transformation of images of the past and the rise of cancel culture. First, the conflict between “old” and “new” mnemonic security regimes. Second, the lack of resources for actors to establish their mnemonic security regime as universally accepted. Third, the rejection of deliberation and the choice of conflict as a way to resolve contradictions. The article also examines the specifics of functioning of mnemonic security regimes in the context of digitalization. It identifies key strategies for maintaining one’s own mnemonic security regime while marginalizing others, including appeals to justice and to historical truth. The study concludes that atomization and conflict are defining characteristics of modern memorial discourse. 

Keywords: politics of memory, memorial discourse, mnemonic security regime, memory regime, security regime, political project, conflict, cancel culture, digitalization