Through RISE Bookselling, a three-year EU co-funded project run by the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), EIBF published a research paper raising awareness on the growing problem of cultural censorship and the obstacles to freedom of speech. This study investigates the evolving challenges faced by booksellers, mainly the rising political and ideological divides that have fuelled book censorship, and even attacks on bookshops. The research spotlights examples from France, Hungary, USA, Ireland, Australia, Spain, the UK, and Italy. Read more below.
Over the past decade, the book sector has witnessed a worrying rise of political and religious polarisation, which in turn has reared its head towards bookshops and the invaluable work they do for their communities. Indeed, as bastions of free speech and keen partisans of social justice movements, as well as places of community and dialogue, bookshops have often been at the receiving end of such extremism - be it through censorship or targeted violence.
Through EIBF’s efforts to counter cultural censorship, we have become aware that there is a need to map out the current situation – to provide a state of play of book censorships currently imposed, as well as the common challenges that booksellers are facing. Therefore, this Industry Insights paper aims to raise awareness on the extent of current book censorships, as well as the extent of the violence targeting bookshops around the world. It also collates a list of resources that already exist that help booksellers stand up against censorship.
We hope that this paper may serve as a resource for booksellers so that they can feel less isolated, knowing that what they might have experienced is, unfortunately, not unique and, most importantly, that they are not alone in the fight against book censorships and violence.
This paper, published on the International Day of Democracy on the 15th of September, is the fifth volume in a series of research papers called Industry Insights. You can read the full report, as well as our past Industry Insights, here.
What are Industry Insights?
RISE Industry Insights is a series of research papers that investigate priority topics for the bookselling sector. They give insights into key issues, policy reforms and other external initiatives that affect the bookselling sector. In addition, they provide network members with tools to engage with relevant political stakeholders, culture sector professionals and private sector representatives to ensure that their priorities are adequately upheld and supported.
The Industry Insights are produced by Daniel Martín Brennan and Tora Åsling, Policy Advisor and Policy Officer respectively at the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF).
What is RISE Bookselling?
‘Resilience, Innovation and Sustainability for the Enhancement of Bookselling’, or RISE Bookselling in short, aims to upscale, reinforce and maximise the capacity and resilience of the European bookselling sector. The project helps bookshops innovate and stay up to date with new trends and technologies to ensure their long-term sustainability. This three-year programme is organised by EIBF and co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.