This conversation highlights the vital role of literature in resisting authoritarianism and fostering dialogue in today's politically charged environment. It emphasizes the importance of storytelling in understanding and addressing societal issues.

The Albanian author of Free and the Turkish novelist discuss the rise of populism, censorship – and how today’s conflicts all come from the unresolved trauma of the pastLea Ypi’s prize-winning memoir, Free, detailed the experience of growing up in Albania both before and after communist rule. Her&nbsp;new book, Indignity, reconstructs the life of her grandmother, who arrived in Tirana from Salonica as a young woman and became closely involved with the country’s political life. She currently holds the Ralph Miliband chair in politics and philosophy at the London School of Economics. The Turkish writer Elif Shafak is author of more than 20 books, both nonfiction and fiction, including the Booker-shortlisted novel 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World and, most recently, There Are Rivers in the Sky. When the pair talked over videocall, Ypi travelling in India and Shafak at home in London, their conversation ranged over the threats of censorship and the rise of populism, the challenges of being writers with multiple identities and the importance of representing complex historical events in their work.Elif Shafak It’s the age of angst. There’s so much anxiety, east and west, young and old, so many people are anxious right now, it’s quite palpable. And I think in many ways, it’s the golden era for demagoguery, for the populist demagogue to enter the stage and say: “Just leave it with me. I’m going to make things simple for you.” <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/aug/30/literature-can-be-a-form-of-resistance-lea-ypi-talks-to-elif-shafak-about-writing-in-the-age-of-demagogues">Continue reading...</a>

تسلط هذه المحادثة الضوء على الدور الحيوي للأدب في مقاومة الاستبداد وتعزيز الحوار في بيئة سياسية مشحونة. وتؤكد على أهمية السرد في فهم ومعالجة القضايا الاجتماعية.

تتناول ليا يبي وإليف شافاق تأثير الشعبوية والرقابة على الأدب، مع التفكير في كيفية تشكيل الصراعات المعاصرة من خلال الصدمات التاريخية غير المحلولة.

Esta conversación resalta el papel vital de la literatura en la resistencia al autoritarismo y en la promoción del diálogo en un entorno político cargado. Enfatiza la importancia de contar historias para entender y abordar los problemas sociales.

Lea Ypi y Elif Shafak discuten sobre el impacto del populismo y la censura en la literatura, reflexionando sobre cómo los traumas históricos no resueltos moldean los conflictos contemporáneos.

Cette conversation souligne le rôle essentiel de la littérature dans la résistance à l'autoritarisme et la promotion du dialogue dans un environnement politique chargé. Elle met en avant l'importance de la narration pour comprendre et aborder les problèmes sociétaux.

Lea Ypi et Elif Shafak discutent de l'impact du populisme et de la censure sur la littérature, en réfléchissant à la manière dont les traumatismes historiques non résolus façonnent les conflits contemporains.

Lea Ypi and Elif Shafak discuss the impact of populism and censorship on literature, reflecting on how unresolved historical traumas shape contemporary conflicts.