Pluto Press
London, 1969. Richard Kuper opened a small office to support political debate and activism. The International Socialists provided the initial Trotskyist agenda for this new venture. Nina Kidron and Michael Kidron joined in 1972 to broaden the revolutionary left focus. Anne Benewick and Ric Sissons arrived shortly after to expand the team. The group eventually reached sixteen members working together. Critics described Pluto Press as one of the most influential socialist publishing houses of that time. Early successes included Sheila Rowbotham's Hidden from History: 300 years of women's oppression and the fight against it. Patrick Kinnersley's Hazards of Work also gained significant attention during these formative years.
The Workers' Handbooks series emerged as a core offering for trade union audiences. Marxism Series and Ideas in Action followed with theoretical texts for activists. Militarism, State and Society series addressed global conflict dynamics directly. Pluto Plays brought scripts to theatre-goers through Royal Court Theatre collaborations. Arguments for Socialism and Pluto Crime expanded the catalog into diverse fields. Liberation Classics appeared in the 1980s to preserve historical radical texts. Big Red Diaries became another notable addition to the collection. Michael Kidron and Ronald Segal created the State of the World Atlas series. This visual encapsulation of major social and political trends was published by Pan Books while produced by Pluto Press. These publications defined the press output during its first two decades.
Direct sales targeted trades unions, women's organisations, and student networks. Radical bookshops emerging in the 1970s provided additional distribution channels. Pluto Press distributed titles generated by Urizen Books and South End Press in the US. Ink Links in the UK received Pluto Press support as well. Counter-Information Services and History Workshop relied on their distribution network. Feminist Review found partners within this expanding system. Volume Sales operated as a trade sales organisation under Ric Sissons direction. Allison & Busby partnered with them to manage these operations. Max Stafford-Clark collaborated with the Royal Court Theatre to print entire playscripts in programmes. Caryl Churchill and Snoo Wilson works appeared in these theatrical partnerships. Roger van Zwanenberg bought Pluto Press from Kuper in 1987. Norman Drake held shares until selling them to van Zwanenberg later.
June 2008 marked the termination of distribution ties between Pluto Press and The University of Michigan Press. New guidelines for external publishing relationships triggered this decision. A 2007 book titled Overcoming Zionism by Joel Kovel played a central role in the dispute. Kovel argued for a one state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in that text. The university observed that Pluto Press does not undertake peer review of finished manuscripts. Roger van Zwanenberg described this rationale as a facade during public statements. He noted that the university knew Pluto's process differed from standard academic presses. Jennifer Howard reported on this event in The Chronicle of Higher Education on the 18th of June 2008. Brief resumption of redistribution occurred before final cessation in 2008. This controversy highlighted tensions between independent radical publishers and established academic institutions.
Pluto Journals launched in 2009 to publish several open-access journals. Arab Studies Quarterly became an active publication within this new system. Bethlehem University Journal joined the expanding collection of periodicals. Decolonial Horizons / Horizontes Decoloniales offered critical perspectives on global issues. Groundings: The Journal of the Walter Rodney Foundation focused on historical analysis. Institute of Employment Rights Journal addressed labor rights concerns directly. International Journal of Critical Diversity Studies examined intersectional frameworks. International Journal of Cuban Studies provided regional expertise on Caribbean politics. International Journal of Disability and Social Justice covered accessibility topics globally. Islamophobia Studies Journal explored religious discrimination patterns systematically. Journal for the Study of Indentureship and its Legacies documented migration histories. Journal of Fair Trade analyzed economic justice movements worldwide. Journal of Global Faultlines investigated geopolitical tensions across regions. Journal of Intersectionality examined overlapping social identities and power structures. Policy Perspectives offered practical solutions for political reform efforts. Prometheus. Critical Studies in Innovation tracked technological change impacts. ReOrient: The Journal of Critical Muslim Studies presented diverse Islamic scholarship. Socialist Lawyer served legal professionals interested in progressive causes. State Crime Journal investigated government misconduct cases globally. Work Organisation, Labour & Globalisation connected workplace dynamics with international economics. World Review of Political Economy analyzed macroeconomic systems critically. Zanj: The Journal of Critical Global South Studies highlighted Southern Hemisphere voices. As of 2022, these journals remained active within the Pluto Press ecosystem.
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Common questions
When did Richard Kuper open Pluto Press in London?
Richard Kuper opened a small office for Pluto Press in London during 1969. The International Socialists provided the initial Trotskyist agenda for this new venture.
Who joined Pluto Press to broaden its revolutionary left focus after 1972?
Nina Kidron and Michael Kidron joined Pluto Press in 1972 to broaden the revolutionary left focus. Anne Benewick and Ric Sissons arrived shortly after to expand the team until the group reached sixteen members working together.
What series did Pluto Press launch to publish open-access journals starting in 2009?
Pluto Journals launched in 2009 to publish several open-access journals including Arab Studies Quarterly and Bethlehem University Journal. As of 2022, these journals remained active within the Pluto Press ecosystem.
Why did The University of Michigan Press terminate distribution ties with Pluto Press in June 2008?
The University of Michigan Press terminated distribution ties on the 18th of June 2008 because Pluto Press does not undertake peer review of finished manuscripts. A 2007 book titled Overcoming Zionism by Joel Kovel played a central role in the dispute regarding this decision.
Which books were early successes for Pluto Press during its formative years?
Early successes included Sheila Rowbotham's Hidden from History: 300 years of women's oppression and the fight against it. Patrick Kinnersley's Hazards of Work also gained significant attention during these formative years.