Surveillance Research: Main Areas and Theoretical Approaches

Abstract

In recent years, fears of surveillance by the state and business corporations have been growing louder in the Russian media and public and political discourse. Opinion polls show a growing public concern about the lack of personal data protection. However, the scientific development of these problems is in its infancy in Russia, and numerous foreign surveillance studies remain almost unknown. This article seeks to familiarize the Russian-speaking audience with foreign scientific literature on surveillance, to stimulate the development of Russian research in this area. A brief history of the surveillance research in the West and an overview of the main research areas in this field are given, and key theoretical approaches are considered.