A Study On The Censorship Policy Of Russian Books And Periodicals From The Mid-19th Century To The Early 20th Century

This article mainly studies the relationship between the Russian government and the press and publishing industry.It discussed matters related to the adjustment of Russian book censorship policy from the middle of the 19 th century to the beginning of the 20 th century.The paper mainly analyzes the reasons and influences of the change process from liberal to conservative in the censorship policy of Russian books and periodicals,and the struggle for freedom in Russia's press and publishing industry.It also explains the essence of the adjustment of Russian censorship policy.The thesis mainly includes three parts: introduction,text and conclusion.In the introduction,firstly,it defines the concept of book review and its objects,analyzes the current situation of domestic and foreign historians on the changes in Russian book review policy from the middle of the 19 th century to the beginning of the 20 th century.It introduces the writing ideas and research methods of this article,and analyzes the innovations and shortcomings of this article.The content of the paper is as follows:Chapter 1 mainly introduces the development history of Russian book review: in terms of law,from the early official documents with the nature of censorship to separate decrees,until the promulgation of formal censorship laws;on the review organizations of books and periodicals,it established from the school district responsibility system to the central and local level perfect review committee of books and periodicals;in terms of book review policies,from a single law dealing with illegal speech to a full range of supervision of the publishing industry.Under the absolute authoritarian system,Russia's publishing industry was struggling to develop and failed to form its own influence.Until the 1850 s,in the struggle against the publishing industry and public opinion,the Russian autocratic government achieved a completely overwhelming victory.The publishing industry and public opinion were in a subordinate position,and the two sides showed a completely hostile relationship.Chapter 2 mainly discusses the background of Russia's book review policy adjustment in the 1860 s,and analyzes it from three aspects: publishing industry and public opinion itself,intellectual class and ruling class.The publishing industry and public opinion suppressed by Nicholas I broke through the blockade of book censorship with the help of the defeat of the Crimean War and the change of czars,and a huge energy burst out.At a time when the country needs to change,the public opinion in Russian society has reached a peak,and people have expressed and spread their views on the future of the country's development.In the publishing industry,the social class represented by intellectuals expressed their desire to obtain freedom of publication and speech,and hoped that the government can adjust the policy of censorship of books and periodicals.The reason is not only conducive to social development,but also conducive to the rule of the Russian tsar.It can alleviate the intensified social contradictions and is beneficial to the construction of absolute monarchy system itself Facing the sudden crisis,the Russian ruling class had to begin to explore the possibility of adjusting the censorship policy,and had a debate on the specific content and principle.During the dispute,the Russian government opened a path of self-regulation.Chapter 3 mainly interprets the specific issues related to Russia's book review policy and legislation.It took Russia nearly 10 years from the beginning of the discussion to the formal promulgation of policy and legislation for review of books and periodicals.The legislation is a reshuffle of the old censorship system for books and periodicals,and an attempt to adjust the relationship between the government,the publishing industry and public opinion.The government reintegrated the resources of reviewing books and periodicals,and improved the organizations of reviewing books and periodicals at the central and local levels.Once the central idea of a total crackdown on the publishing industry began to loosen,and the relationship between the publishing industry and the government began to be temporarily stable.However,the adjustment of the book review policy is a self-reform of the government.As with other reforms undertaken in Russia in the 1860 s,there was considerable incompleteness.The Russian government has left plenty of room for arbitrary manipulation.Therefore,despite the reform,the nature of the book review system to maintain the autocratic system and escort the Tsar has not changed.Reform legislation is also full of dual characteristics.The biggest manifestation is the transfer of the review of books and periodicals jurisdiction from the Ministry of National Education to the Ministry of internal Affairs.The political function of censorship has only strengthened.Chapter 4 mainly analyzes the influence of the book review policy and legislation on the publishing industry.After the adjustment of the book review policy,the government began to allow privately-owned newspapers and periodicals.The types and numbers of Russian publications began to increase significantly.Scientific publications,political and cultural publications,and leisure and entertainment publications entered the Russian public's vision.Influenced by the policy of censorship,Russian publications have a distinct sense of hierarchy.Although living conditions have improved,revolutionary democratic publications were still suppressed.Liberal publications representing the interests of the bourgeoisie are obviously more popular,and their ideas and views were accepted by more people.Both the general public and aristocratic bureaucracies were also far ahead of other publications in terms of subscriptions.Conservative and right-wing publications enjoyed strong government support,but lack real market support.When there was a market,there would be huge economic benefits,and the drive of benefits would intensify the competition among publications.After the 1860 s,the Russian publishing industry also appeared a clear capitalization trend.With the implementation of the new book review policy,the Russian government needs officials who understand government policies better to perform the book review function.Therefore,the team of book review officials has also been completely shuffled.Chapter 5 is the last chapter of the thesis.After the adjustment of the book review policy,the government began to take countermeasures in the face of the increasingly influential Russian press and publishing industry and public opinion.Revolutionary crises,peasant riots,and student movements were constantly shaking the foundation of the Russian monarchy.And these were inseparable from the publicity and guidance of public opinion."Conducting public opinion wars" was an important way for the Russian government to positively suppress the spread of revolutionary democratic ideas.It mainly includes the establishment of universal official newspapers,supporting semi-official newspapers,supporting conservative and right-wing newspapers and so on.Banning and expanding administrative regulation of the publishing industry was another way for the Russian government to reverse the spread of progressive ideas.After the 1870 s,conservatism in the field of censorship became stronger.The government has been increasing temporary decrees to tighten restrictions on the press and publishing industry.With administrative warnings,newspaper closures,economic sanctions,and outright and permanent closure of progressive newspapers,Russia's publishing industry plunged back into darkness until the early 20 th century.The last part is the conclusion.Until 1905,the Russian press and publishing industry failed to obtain legal status at the legal level.The adjustment of Russia's book review policy was essentially changing the relationship with the publishing industry.This adjustment also depends on changes in the domestic and international revolutionary situation,peasant riots,and the spread of progressive ideas.The book review reform legislation in the 1860 s gave the press and publishing industry some openness,and the Russian publishing industry ushered in a rare opportunity for development.Since then,the Russian government and the press and publishing industry have maintained a certain fragile and balanced relationship,and the balance of power between the two sides has also quietly changed.However,with the deepening of the Russian revolution and the publicity of progressive ideas,the power of the press and publishing industry has been greatly strengthened.Since the 1870 s,the Russian government began to gradually tighten the book review policy until 1905.During this period,the publishing industry seems to have returned to the era of the dark book censorship policy in the past.It has been proved that no matter how strict the censorship policy,it cannot eliminate the spread of progressive ideas and the existence of revolutionary democracy and later Marxist publications.The idea of a republican system of social equality and a legal guarantee of civil liberties was still circulating in Russia,and eventually buried the autocratic system.