Tong, Kin-long;
(2025)
Rethinking the Politics of Scale: Independent Publishing for Social Changes in Hong Kong and Beyond.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
Using insights from interviews with 45 indie practitioners in the book publishing industry, descriptive statistics, and a detailed analysis of indie publications, this thesis investigates why and how Hong Kong citizens employed indie publishing and bookselling to drive social change from 2012 to 2022. This investigation is framed through the perspectives of the politics of medium and the politics of scale. Conventionally, Hong Kong has cultivated a long tradition of publishing activism dating back to the early colonial period of the late 19th century. This aligns with scholarly perceptions of indie publishing as a form of cultural resistance against dominant oppressive structures. This historical legacy has bequeathed abundant tangible and intangible resources to subsequent generations of publishers and booksellers. The dynamics of cultural resistance and domination have been further complicated by digital transformations, which unveil new sites of contestation. The publishing industry, to a certain extent, has benefited from various digital tools, ranging from laser printing to social media and crowdfunding platforms. These tools are advantageous for small-scale practices and have reduced entry barriers for some part-time players. Meanwhile, small-scale operations inherently exhibit several strengths in cultural production, including lower fixed costs that afford higher market autonomy, greater flexibility in creative experimentation and social responses, and closer proximity between publishers, booksellers, and readers, fostering affective solidarity. Therefore, when political crises occur, creating an immense urge for reading, writing, and political engagement, publishing and bookselling serve as alternative venues for former politicians and journalists to participate politically. In this context, Hong Kong witnessed a surge in indie publishing and bookselling activities. However, when the government intensified repression, indie publishing and bookselling encountered limitations, prompting many practitioners to join a significant migration wave from Hong Kong to Britain, Canada, and Taiwan. Nevertheless, for some, small-scale practices embody an additional layer of pragmatism, enabling them to restart their endeavors in their new homes.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Rethinking the Politics of Scale: Independent Publishing for Social Changes in Hong Kong and Beyond |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2025. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of Arts and Humanities UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Dept of Information Studies |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10204056 |
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