From Glasnost To The Internet: Russia’s New Infosphere

FROM GLASNOST TO THE INTERNET Also by Frank Ellis VASILY GROSSMAN: The Genesis and Evolution of a Russian Heretic From Glasnost to the Internet Russia's New Infosphere Frank Ellis Reuter Foundation Lecturer in Russian and East European Media University 0/ Leeds * © Frank Ellis 1999 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1999978-0-333-67095-8 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street, London EC1 N 8TS Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The author has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Published by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN Palgrave Macmillan in the UK is an imprint of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS Palgrave Macmillan in the US is a division of St Martin's Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY1 001 O. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. Palgrave® and Macmillan® are reistered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries. Outside North America ISBN 978-1-349-27078-1 ISBN 978-1-349-27076-7 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-27076-7 Inside North America ISBN 978-0-312-21765-5 This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. Logging, pulping and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Ca ta log Card Number: 98-20783 To the memory of Viktor Kravchenko (1905-66) Soviet defector, freedom-fighter and truth-teller Contents Preface IX Glossary of Soviet and Russian Media Terms xviii Chronology Part I xii The Collapse of Soviet Communism 1 1 Information Deficit Some Causes and Symptoms of Collapse The Decisive Impact of Censorship The Problem of Ideology The Effects of Censorship The Economy Science Literature and Language Gorbachev, Glasnost', Collapse Conclusion 3 3 6 8 29 29 33 39 44 52 Part 11 65 2 Liberty: The Nurse of All Great Wits Mass Media Legislation of the Russian Federation Introduction Towards the 1990 Press Law 1992 Mass Media Law (Amendments and Supplements) Further Primary Legislation Affecting the Mass Media The Arbitration Information Tribunal The ludicial Chamber for Information Disputes Secrecy Legislation and the Mass Media Law for Reporting the Activities of State Agencies in the State Media 1994 The 1995 Information Law Other Government Agencies and the Media Presidential Press Service Summary Vll 67 67 68 74 77 77 79 83 87 88 90 91 93 Contents Vlll 3 Russian Journalism's Time of Troubles Introduction A Viable Fourth Estate (?) Crime and the Chechen War Conclusion Part III 4 Shaping the New Infosphere A Survey of Russia's Culture and Media Wars 5 The Internet in Russia Introduction Bangemann and Gates: Potholes on the Road Ahead The Case Against the Universal Provision of Electronic Mail Legislation and the Networ