ON THE ISSUE OF CENSORSHIP: THE CONCEPT, THE SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO THE STUDY, HISTORIOGRAPHY OF THE FUNCTIONING OF CENSORSHIP ON THE TERRITORY OF BELARUS IN THE PERIOD OF 1905 – 1917.

Abstract

The article analyzes the multidimensional nature of the concept of censorship. Among the methods of censorship research, the emphasis was placed on a systematic approach. The works of native and foreign authors on the development of the censorship system in the Russian Empire and its part – censorship on the territory of Belarus in 1905 – 1917 are considered. The aim is to reveal the concept of "censorship", the importance of a systematic approach in its study, to highlight the poorly studied areas of censorship in the historiography of the issue. As a result of the research, the author came to the conclusion that at the present stage of the development of knowledge, censorship is perceived as a multidimensional phenomenon, with the attribute of dichotomy and contradictions: on the one hand, censorship is characterized by the suppression of dissent, on the other hand, it is in many ways a measure of freedom of speech and thought. The censorship apparatus is part of censorship and functions as a state regulatory body. From the standpoint of a systematic approach, the author perceives censorship as a system with many components, interrelations between them, its own structure, internal and external environment, equilibrium and non-equilibrium states. Non-equilibrium states of censorship in the studied period are characteristic for the territory of Belarus in 1905, 1907 and in 1917. Censorship was at bifurcation points, in a state of duality, uncertainty and the possibility of several outcomes. The interdependence of public mood and actions with changes in censorship, the influence of the internal and external environment found special expression in these periods. The study revealed that there has been no comprehensive study of censorship on the territory of Belarus in 1905 – 1917 either in native or foreign historiography; therefore there is a need for a detailed development of the functioning of the censorship apparatus, the study of the practice of censoring publications in the period under study.