The Booker's Blind Spot for Local Voices The International Booker Prize is often touted as a celebration of literary diversity, but this year's shortlist raises questions about its true commitment to global storytelling.
While it's heartening to see independent presses rewarded and translators finally receiving proper recognition, the selection highlights a familiar blind spot: the dominance of Western perspectives.
Shida Bazyar's novel "The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran" is a prime example of this issue. On one hand, its inclusion on the shortlist is commendable, particularly given current tensions between Iran and the West.