Conditions of Censorship Complicity in Scholarly Publishing: A China case study

"As part of DefendResearch.org's ongoing work to highlight the dangers of government censorship of science and research in the United States, we are launching a webinar series in 2026 dedicated to conversations with scholars and experts who view the current attacks on academic freedom as existential and who believe that it is vital to educate the public about the repercussions of these acts of censorship.

During this webinar, we'll be in conversation with Dr. George Cooper (he/him), Lecturer in Publishing Practice at University College London. Dr. Cooper will present an overview of key findings from a 6-year research project on the conditions of censorship complicity in scholarly publishing. This will include a discussion of how political coercion and economic dependence shaped publishers' responses to censorship demands in China, and the widespread tendencies to diffuse, deny and redistribute responsibility to resist censorship pressures more broadly. We will explore how uncertainty is managed strategically by censors and self-censors alike and in ways that prohibit collective action. This presentation will show how effective resistance to censorship requires broader coalitions—encompassing research funders and librarians—and sector-wide frameworks to enable collective action."