Freedom or Security in Russia: The False Choice

The paper aims to study the problem of enhanced tendency of the state to limit citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms, globally and in Russia, justifying it with the need to provide security. Two major approaches to the ratio of freedom and security can be identified in the Russian public discourse – neo-conservative and liberal-democratic. The author uses the concept of social constructivism as a methodology basis for the research to analyze these approaches’ content and ways of constructing them. A contradiction has always exists between the individual’s right for freedom and pursuit of security. However, the specific way of solving it depends on the type of political system and the role of the political elite. The following results were obtained. People’s basic need for security is used by the Russian political elite as a justification for any state policy measures, including limitation of citizens’ constitutional rights and freedoms and curtailing democratic institutions and practices. This is implemented by establishing the state control of mass media, manipulating the public opinion through propaganda, as well as funding the security apparatus in ways not controlled by the society. Security instead of freedom is a false choice imposed on the population by the authorities. Achieving security and freedom is not mutually contradictory; it is mutually determining under conditions of an effective rule-of-law state.