Performing Censorship

This timely examination of Russian censorship reveals how constitutional guarantees of free expression have been systematically dismantled into a sophisticated penal system for political control. Meerzon traces the evolution of these censorship mechanisms from their 18th-century origins to their current deployment during the war in Ukraine, showing how propaganda prohibitions against social hatred have been weaponized to suppress dissent. The book exposes the stark gap between Russia's legal framework and its actual suppression of thought and information.

What distinguishes this analysis is its focus on censorship as a performative act—a theatrical display of state power that extends beyond traditional media into personal freedoms and artistic expression. Readers interested in political science, theater studies, and human rights will find compelling insights into how censorship operates as both punishment and spectacle. Meerzon's work illuminates the chilling reality that in contemporary Russia, censorship has become the performance that must go on, with devastating consequences for personal liberty.