{"title":"Virtually (non)existent? The role of digital media in Russian LGBTQ+ activism","authors":"Radzhana Buyantueva","doi":"10.1057/s41311-024-00592-7","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Over the last two decades, LGBTQ+ individuals in Russia have been using digital media to communicate and mobilize, making up for their lack of representation in mainstream media. However, the government has strengthened its control over the internet to reinforce authoritarianism, traditionalism, and anti-Westernism, using queerphobia to target online sources of ‘LGBTQ+ propaganda.’ This article explores the important role of digital media in Russian LGBTQ+ activism and how activists deal with issues of community and visibility in the face of growing authoritarian control. Russian LGBTQ+ activists face the challenges of balancing safety, visibility, and belonging. To make the most impact, they use creative strategies and international digital media, utilizing delocalized visibility to achieve belonging without compromising their safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":46593,"journal":{"name":"International Politics","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Politics","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1057/s41311-024-00592-7","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Over the last two decades, LGBTQ+ individuals in Russia have been using digital media to communicate and mobilize, making up for their lack of representation in mainstream media. However, the government has strengthened its control over the internet to reinforce authoritarianism, traditionalism, and anti-Westernism, using queerphobia to target online sources of ‘LGBTQ+ propaganda.’ This article explores the important role of digital media in Russian LGBTQ+ activism and how activists deal with issues of community and visibility in the face of growing authoritarian control. Russian LGBTQ+ activists face the challenges of balancing safety, visibility, and belonging. To make the most impact, they use creative strategies and international digital media, utilizing delocalized visibility to achieve belonging without compromising their safety.
期刊介绍:
International Politics?is a leading peer reviewed journal dedicated to transnational issues and global problems. It subscribes to no political or methodological identity and welcomes any appropriate contributions designed to communicate findings and enhance dialogue.International Politics?defines itself as critical in character truly international in scope and totally engaged with the central issues facing the world today. Taking as its point of departure the simple but essential notion that no one approach has all the answers it aims to provide a global forum for a rapidly expanding community of scholars from across the range of academic disciplines.International Politics?aims to encourage debate controversy and reflection. Topics addressed within the journal include:Rethinking the Clash of CivilizationsMyths of WestphaliaHolocaust and ChinaLeo Strauss and the Cold WarJustin Rosenberg and Globalisation TheoryPutin and the WestThe USA Post-BushCan China Rise Peacefully Just WarsCuba Castro and AfterGramsci and IRIs America in Decline。