Do Prizes Drive Publishing?

In this session, Professor Yasir Suleiman offers a critical exploration of the role literary prizes play in shaping the Arab and global publishing landscape. The discussion examines how awards influence writers, publishers, and readers’ preferences, as well as their impact on the book industry as a whole. It also delves into the complex relationship between literary merit and institutional recognition, questioning whether prizes truly elevate literature or simply reshape its priorities according to market and award dynamics.