Business, Politics, and Books: Dr. Zheng Liu on Independent Bookselling in China

Dr. Zheng Liu, Lecturer in Innovation Management at the University of Bristol Business School, joins Business Talk to discuss her book Cultural Mavericks: The Business and Politics of Independent Bookselling in China, unpacking how non-state bookstores in China navigate commercial pressures while preserving intellectual autonomy and distinctive cultural identities. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, she explains how these bookstores define their independence through non-state ownership, operational autonomy, and a strong, characterful presence, and how they use strategies such as careful political framing, moral positioning, and cultural distinction to stand out in an intensely competitive, highly capitalist book market. This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. For more information, please visit www.globalmanagementconsultancy.com. Disclaimer: 1. The background music incorporated in this video is the intellectual property of its respective developer and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Notwithstanding that it is a free-to-use version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy, and Deepak Bhatt do not own, and expressly do not claim, any rights, title, or interest in or to this music. 2. Dr. Zheng Liu shared key insights from her book, "Cultural Mavericks: The Business and Politics of Independent Bookselling in China", in an engaging episode of the Business Talk podcast. The uploaded video contains copyrighted content, so changing any graphics, music, or on-screen appearance of the author or host is not allowed.