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Censorship in authoritarian and totalitarian regimes I. The Communist mass media. Totalitarian regimes. Society is entirely controlled by the State, no elements of civil society exist The courts are politicised Mass society, no individualism accepted
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Censorship in authoritarian and totalitarian regimes I The Communist mass media
Totalitarian regimes • Society is entirely controlled by the State, no elements of civil society exist • The courts are politicised • Mass society, no individualism accepted • The State power is concentrated into the hands of a group or a person who cannot be removed from the power by using peaceful means • A mobilising ideology justifies the power of the ruling elite
Authoritarian regimes • The State controls society, but certain spheres of civil society (civic initiatives) exist • The court system is independent from the State • Ruling elite (person) uses ideology for justifying and supporting the regime, but limited opposition is possible
Power structure in the Soviet Union • Constitution • The Central Committee of the CPSU • Politbureau (Secretariat) of the CC of the CPSU • Parliament = the Supreme Soviet of the USSR • Government = The Council of Ministers
“The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.” Steve Biko (1946-1977) South African politician
“Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas.” Joseph Stalin (1879-1953), Soviet Communist leader and head of the USSR 1924-1953
Homo soveticus “The ideal set up by the Party was something huge, terrible, and glittering – a world of steel and concrete, of monstrous machines and terrifying weapons – a nation of warriors and fanatics, marching forward in perfect unity, all thinking the same thoughts and shouting the same slogans, perpetually working, fighting, triumphing, persecuting – three hundred million people all with the same face” (Orwell “1984”)
Hierarchic structure of the Soviet Press Organs of the CP and Supreme Soviet (=Parliament): Pravda, Izvestija + analogues in the ‘Republics’ in Russian and national languages; Organs of the Young Communist League (Komsomol): Komsomolskaja Pravda + analogues in the ‘Republics’; Organs of the Trade Unions (Trud + regional and local); Publications of the State institutions/Ministeries etc; Publications of Associations and Unions (Pionerskaja Pravda + regional)
Hierarchy of events All-Union events International events ‘Republican’ events (in the national republics) Regional events Local events
Hierarchy of sources Leaders of the CP and government officials TASS, Vremja, All-Union press News agencies of the ‘Republics’ Editors-in-chief Journalists
Hierarchy of topics Ideology, CP policy, domestic affairs in the USSR International affairs and foreign policy History of the Communist Party and USSR Economy (industry, agriculture) Soviet life style Education, culture, sports etc.
Hierarchy of genres Editorial Political comment All-Union and regional news Column, interview, reportage etc.
The Soviet Censorship System CentralCommittee of the CP of the SU Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union KGB (5. Dept) Propag. and Agitation Dept of the Central Committee of the CP GLAVLIT= The Chief Administration for the Protection of State Secrets in Press and the Other Media State TV and Radio Committee State Publishing and Booktrade Committee Glavlit’s local dept.s Various state institutions
List of data banned in publications, radio and television programmes (1987)
Regulations of Printing of Non-Secret Publications (1989)
‘Especially dangerous’ book, marked with two hexagons
A secret GLAVLIT order for inspection of draws, shelves, lockers and cupboards in the offices of State institutions, schools, libraries etc. Dec. 1948.
Rahva Hääl 30.4.1986 ‘From the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union’
Rahva Hääl 10.9.1988 Noorte Hääl 10.9.1988
Noorte Hääl 10.9.1988 Rahva Hääl 10.9.1988