Sustaining Mission-Driven Publishing in Politically Constrained Environments: The Case of CEU Press
Location
Online
Start Date
21-10-2025 10:25 AM
End Date
21-10-2025 11:05 AM
Description
The Central European University (CEU) created its Press in 1993 in Budapest, Hungary, in a climate of hope and the rising of democracy in the former Eastern European block. Many of the early publications mirror this atmosphere. Titles that were unimaginable to be published before found an outlet and reached readers all around the world, especially in the USA.
Fast forward 30 years, and the political situation has changed dramatically. The degree giving educational program of CEU was driven out of Hungary by the Fidesz government. The values championed by both CEU and the press are not in accordance with Hungary’s administration. Nevertheless, CEU Press, still with a presence in Budapest, continues to publish books in the humanities and social sciences with little regard to whether or not they will please the authorities. Instead, CEU Press puts marginalized voices in the spotlight through offering various Open Access options, like the 'Opening the Future' model. All of this is a community effort. It involves courageous authors and editors who continue to bring forward important research as well as the support of libraries around the world.
Against this background, how is it possible to continue mission-driven publishing in a climate of political pressure? Can (self-)censorship be avoided or minimized? What are our responsibilities towards authors when publishing a book becomes a risk? What opportunities does Open Access offer for authors and readers in a threatened democracy? In our presentation, we will address these questions and share our experience to hopefully inspire others.
Sustaining Mission-Driven Publishing in Politically Constrained Environments: The Case of CEU Press
Online
The Central European University (CEU) created its Press in 1993 in Budapest, Hungary, in a climate of hope and the rising of democracy in the former Eastern European block. Many of the early publications mirror this atmosphere. Titles that were unimaginable to be published before found an outlet and reached readers all around the world, especially in the USA.
Fast forward 30 years, and the political situation has changed dramatically. The degree giving educational program of CEU was driven out of Hungary by the Fidesz government. The values championed by both CEU and the press are not in accordance with Hungary’s administration. Nevertheless, CEU Press, still with a presence in Budapest, continues to publish books in the humanities and social sciences with little regard to whether or not they will please the authorities. Instead, CEU Press puts marginalized voices in the spotlight through offering various Open Access options, like the 'Opening the Future' model. All of this is a community effort. It involves courageous authors and editors who continue to bring forward important research as well as the support of libraries around the world.
Against this background, how is it possible to continue mission-driven publishing in a climate of political pressure? Can (self-)censorship be avoided or minimized? What are our responsibilities towards authors when publishing a book becomes a risk? What opportunities does Open Access offer for authors and readers in a threatened democracy? In our presentation, we will address these questions and share our experience to hopefully inspire others.
