Beirut is on the verge of losing one of its most prominent cultural faces due to the economic crisis that has struck its living conditions. The cultural reality in Beirut is considered to be the most affected, as some view it as a non-priority compared to food and basic living requirements, which are depleting the achievements and savings of the Lebanese people. Sales figures from all publishing houses and bookstores show a "sharp decline" reaching between 80% and 90%. This indicates a danger to the culture of future generations, in addition to the social factor, as reading has become one of the last interests of youth who are dominated by the virtual world in their daily lives.
Our society suffers from "dissociation." Jad Assi, Secretary-General of the Publishers' Association and owner of four publishing houses, expresses regret over the level to which culture has fallen in Lebanon, noting that it has "declined by approximately 90%, which is a very high rate." He states, "Unfortunately, reading, books, and culture have no longer been priorities for us as Lebanese people. Books have turned into mere 'decorations' placed on shelves." Assi attributes this cultural decline in Lebanon to both economic and social factors. Economically, he points out that "books are no longer a priority because of the miserable economic situation we have reached, with the primary concern of Lebanese people now being to secure their food and drink." Cultural books have become luxuries at a time when they are secondary, only purchased by those who are financially comfortable. Thus, as a publisher, my focus is on schoolbooks rather than cultural ones, as Lebanese publishing houses no longer rely on the local market for sales of cultural and literary books; exporting to Gulf countries has become essential.
Assi adds, "Even schoolbooks, which are necessary and essential and cannot be dispensed with regardless of the material situation, have seen a noticeable decline, with sales reaching about 6% last year, dropping by 94%. This year, sales increased slightly to around 15%, marking a decline of approximately 85%." Regarding the options families resort to for securing books for their children, Assi notes that they "have turned to used books, swapping among themselves, and renting." He discusses an economic problem faced by publishing houses that has contributed to rising book prices, manifesting in the global cost of book production. "The cost has become much higher than it was before, with prices for paper, raw materials, and shipping increasing significantly, which has led to higher book prices, making their purchase require a budget."
Even the Beirut International Book Fair has not escaped the economic crisis. In this context, Assi points out that "despite the fair being held last year, we can consider that there was no fair due to the massive drop in sales." Here, he hopes that "this year's fair, scheduled for the beginning of next month, will witness a noticeable improvement in sales." In addition to the economic factor, Dr. Assi reminds us that "the decline in cultural standards in Lebanon began to be evident even before the economic crisis." He states, "Indeed, the economic downturn significantly impacted cultural decline due to citizens being preoccupied with securing their livelihoods and life concerns. However, we must not overlook the negative role played by society, which has contributed, to some extent, even before the economic crisis that began to wreak havoc in Lebanon, to the decline in interest in culture, thought, and literature, favoring social gatherings and outings. Our society is suffering from dissociation."
The sales of cultural books have significantly decreased. Rena Idriss, General Director of one of the publishing houses specializing in cultural and literary books, confirms the large drop in sales, indicating that "sales have decreased by no less than 80%." Idriss links "the decline in interest in culture to both material and social-psychological factors." She notes that "certainly, the material and economic situation has had a significant impact on the decline in interest in literary, cultural, and intellectual reading, as the price of cultural books is now considered 'cheap' somewhat under the economic conditions we live in, where prices of cultural books range from $10 to $20." She adds, "The burdens have become heavy on the shoulders of Lebanese citizens, as they barely secure the price of essentials... However, it is possible that this is not the only factor contributing to this significant decline in the purchasing of cultural books." According to Idriss, "I am not one of those who blame everything on the economic situation; the severe conditions that Lebanon has gone through have undoubtedly affected citizens psychologically and cognitively, negatively impacting book consumption. There is a kind of general frustration, meaning there is something much deeper than the economic situation—there is a kind of loss of trust in our culture and civilization."
For "a glimmer of hope to return to wounded Beirut," Idriss relies on the Beirut International Book Fair opening early next month, announcing efforts to create offers that encourage citizens to buy by reducing prices without causing losses to publishers, who are also affected.
Beirut has "dimmed." After losing its title as the capital of books, the crisis has stripped it of its role as the "printing house of the East." The cultural aura, dimmed due to successive crises, may be completely lost to Beirut over time, especially if we do not see constructive efforts to reactivate its cultural, intellectual, and literary role. Individual initiatives, no matter how significant, cannot be relied upon.
