“Beyond the state: Understanding Russian media resistance” with Kirill Filimonov

Abstract

The presentation builds on several months of ethnographic research on Russian activist media. It argues that, rather than understanding resistance to the state in terms of overthrowing the government, Russian media activism of the past years may be approached as creation of an alternative to the state, characterised by autonomy and elaborate democratic practices. The state has not remained passive in the face of the threat and imposed numerous limitations, but multiple affects - from enjoyment of sociality to indignation - have ensured a continued resistance in the field of media production. The presentation focuses on the years prior to the invasion of Ukraine, but also reflects on the more recent dynamics within Russian media activism in light of the ongoing crackdown on dissent.

Speaker bio

Kirill Filimonov is a media and communications researcher based in Stockholm. He holds a PhD degree from Uppsala University. His academic publications have engaged with the fields of alternative media studies, democratic theory, environmental communication and discourse studies. Prior to his academic work, Kirill worked as a reporter for independent media in Moscow, and still collaborates with Russian and Swedish media as a contributor and commentator.