Being and Aim

COUNTERPRESS provides authors with an alternative to traditional academic publishers.

In addition to publishing high quality printed books at affordable prices, we offer downloadable e-versions according to readers’ ability to pay (i.e. pay-what-you-can). Importantly, we allow those unable to pay to still access the work. All e-books carry a creative commons licence to promote more open access.

While COUNTERPRESS needs to sell books to sustain itself, our aim is not to maximize profit. On the contrary, we are committed to publishing books accessible to all regardless of personal wealth.

Background

We set up COUNTERPRESS in 2013 as a ‘counter’ to the privatizing and excessive profiteering of academic knowledge and to do away with unfair access restrictions to learning materials in a world of uneven globalization. COUNTERPRESS is a natural extension to our successful sister-blog, Critical Legal Thinking (CLT), whose aim has been to contribute to the dissemination of the techniques of critical (legal) theory to the public at large. A blog post is available on CLT ‘Introducing Counterpress‘ and, for a deeper understanding of the spirit behind our intervention, please also read on CLT: ‘Counterpress and Critical Legal Strategy‘.

Focus

Our focus is on publishing academic titles that contribute critical theoretical engagements with the world. While critical legal scholarship is a natural centre of gravity, we are also interested in works that treat legal/juridical, political, social, aesthetic, etc, concerns in a trans- or para-disciplinary manner.

Quality

All proposals undergo a review process drawing upon an international network of academics. Our quality benchmark is set very high. To submit a proposal or other query, please contact us.

Directors

Dr Illan rua Wall
Dr Stephen Connelly
Dr Gilbert Leung