Judith Gelber, Chair of the Lionel Gelber Prize Board, has announced that the 2026 Lionel Gelber Prize has been awarded to Thinking Historically: A Guide to Statecraft and Strategy by Francis J. Gavin, published by Yale University Press. Selected by an international panel of journalists, practitioners, and scholars, the prize recognizes the best English-language book on global affairs each year. It is presented by the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, with the winner receiving a $50,000 award.
Janice Gross Stein, Chair of the jury, praised the book as especially relevant in today’s climate of overlapping global crises and uncertainty. She highlighted how Gavin demonstrates the value of historical thinking in revealing insights that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The winning book was chosen from a strong shortlist that included King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution: A Story of Hubris, Delusion, and Catastrophic Miscalculation by Scott Anderson; Capitalism: A Global History by Sven Beckert; House of Huawei: The Secret History of China’s Most Powerful Company by Eva Dou; and How Progress Ends: Technology, Innovation and the Fate of Nations by Carl Benedikt Frey.
The 2026 jury consisted of Janice Gross Stein (Chair), John Bew, Sergey Radchenko, James Steinberg, and Nina Srinivasan Rathbun.
In its citation, the jury described Gavin’s work as a deeply insightful yet accessible exploration of historical thinking. Rather than focusing on history as a series of events, the book emphasizes a broader historical mindset—one that embraces complexity, uncertainty, and multiple perspectives. The jury noted that Gavin encourages readers to move beyond simple, linear explanations and instead engage with interconnected causes and evolving interpretations. Through a series of thoughtfully crafted chapters, the book fosters greater empathy and understanding, offering valuable perspective on contemporary global challenges. The jury even suggested it surpasses E.H. Carr’s The Twenty Years’ Crisis in helping readers make sense of today’s world.
The Lionel Gelber Prize ceremony and lecture are scheduled for 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Established in 1989 by Canadian diplomat Lionel Gelber, the prize is awarded annually by the Lionel Gelber Prize Board in partnership with the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto. The award carries a cash prize of $50,000 CAD.
Click here to register online.
Janice Gross Stein, Chair of the jury, praised the book as especially relevant in today’s climate of overlapping global crises and uncertainty. She highlighted how Gavin demonstrates the value of historical thinking in revealing insights that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The winning book was chosen from a strong shortlist that included King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution: A Story of Hubris, Delusion, and Catastrophic Miscalculation by Scott Anderson; Capitalism: A Global History by Sven Beckert; House of Huawei: The Secret History of China’s Most Powerful Company by Eva Dou; and How Progress Ends: Technology, Innovation and the Fate of Nations by Carl Benedikt Frey.
The 2026 jury consisted of Janice Gross Stein (Chair), John Bew, Sergey Radchenko, James Steinberg, and Nina Srinivasan Rathbun.
In its citation, the jury described Gavin’s work as a deeply insightful yet accessible exploration of historical thinking. Rather than focusing on history as a series of events, the book emphasizes a broader historical mindset—one that embraces complexity, uncertainty, and multiple perspectives. The jury noted that Gavin encourages readers to move beyond simple, linear explanations and instead engage with interconnected causes and evolving interpretations. Through a series of thoughtfully crafted chapters, the book fosters greater empathy and understanding, offering valuable perspective on contemporary global challenges. The jury even suggested it surpasses E.H. Carr’s The Twenty Years’ Crisis in helping readers make sense of today’s world.
The Lionel Gelber Prize ceremony and lecture are scheduled for 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
Established in 1989 by Canadian diplomat Lionel Gelber, the prize is awarded annually by the Lionel Gelber Prize Board in partnership with the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto. The award carries a cash prize of $50,000 CAD.
Click here to register online.