Authors

Discussion

The term 'new ethics' emerged in conservative Russian circles and became widespread after 2020. 'New ethics' is a label coined by conservative commentators and politicians to criticise demands for gender and racial equality, the decriminalisation of domestic violence and the fight against harassment. Astonishingly, in February 2021, liberal intellectuals also joined the campaign against the so-called new ethics, attacking abolitionist culture and feminist politics and comparing feminists to Bolsheviks. It was only six years ago that domestic violence was decriminalised in Russia. In recent years, the state-ordered closure of gender research centres and the forced registration of many NGOs as so-called 'foreign agents' have accelerated major changes in Russian society. The militant ideology supporting the actions of the Russian army in February 2022 showed the development of a campaign against social and political issues branded as 'new ethics'. My project aims to examine the gender politics of illiberal movements in Russia. I will explore the different types and manifestations that illiberal populism can take in times of multiple crises. Alternatively, I will draw a comparison between different forms of resistance to anti-feminism and anti-LGBTQ+ in Russia - before 2022 and now.