Authors

Joanna Getka¹;  ¹ University of Warsaw, Poland

Discussion

The analysis of the changes in Russian reality and the clearly visible elements of the fascisation process in Russia (see, e.g., Umberto Eco's determinants of fascisation) clearly show that everything starts with language. First, the boundaries of language routine are crossed. Words previously unused, often taken from history, penetrate the recipient's consciousness and initiate a mental change.
Newspeak is a product of a dichotomous, positive-negative strategy of creating a linguistic image of the world. This image is loosely related to objective reality, but is within an ideological framework. This is a simplified image of a war between two worlds: the "Western" and the "Russian", which also includes Ukraine. Such simplifications simultaneously lead to the primitivism and brutalization of discourse.
As a manifestation of the fascism of political language, Newspeak is the result of long-lasting processes. It creates an artificial narrative based on lies, propaganda cliches and manipulation of facts. This phenomenon, even if it was not called Newspeak, is deeply rooted in Russian culture and conditioned by the same factors that created totalitarian regimes.
The problem of Newspeak was updated by Russia's war against Ukraine. As a common phenomenon in the state and pro-Kremlin media, it has excellent conditions for existence: the words "from the distribution list" and the words "on the index" which are under the control of the Kremlin (via Roskomnadzor) have returned. For example, a ban was introduced on the use of the word „war” (because Russia is not conducting any „war”, but only a "special military operation") or mobilization (they were replaced by "partial mobilization" and – from russian language: "donabor" - supplementary recruitment). Alleged language offenses are punishable under new articles in the Criminal Code and the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation "persistent discrediting of the Russian army" (discredit here means: criticism of the actions of the Russian military).
Vladimir Putin uses Newspeak in his speeches - he manipulatively equates the legacy of Rus' and Russia, calls the Ukrainian oblasts of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson Novorossiya, and illegally annexed Crimea - Taurida.
Similar elements - at the same time strongly dehumanizing Ukrainians and justifying war crimes on them - are contained in brochures for soldiers prepared on behalf of the Kremlin, including: war brochures will be discussed - e.g. "I Live - I Fight - I Win".
In my speech, I will try to show - based on the analysis of selected manifestations of Newspeak - the mechanisms of the fascisization process of Russia.