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Sergey Radchenko Awarded the 2025 Lionel Gelber Prize

The esteemed Lionel Gelber Prize for 2025 has been awarded to Sergey Radchenko for his remarkable work, 'To Run the World: The Kremlin's Cold War Bid for Global Power.' This accolade recognizes the best English-language non-fiction book published on international affairs, selected by an international jury of journalists, practitioners, and academics. The award ceremony takes place on April 9, 2025, at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto.

Judith Gelber, Chair of the Lionel Gelber Prize Board, announced the winner on March 19, 2025, celebrating Radchenko's insightful exploration of the complexities that defined the Cold War era. His book, published by Cambridge University Press, sheds light on the Kremlin's aspirations and strategies for global influence during this tumultuous period.

About the Book

In 'To Run the World,' Radchenko provides a profound analysis of the psychological factors that drove Soviet decision-making, tracing the USSR's interactions with the United States and China. He illustrates how the Soviet Union's pursuit of superpower status and its self-identity as the leader of a global revolution shaped international politics from Stalin's territorial post-war maneuvers to Gorbachev's aims for a revised Moscow identity.

The book is noted for its rich original material and compelling narratives that capture the essence of a world grappling with the implications of cold war strategies, and it prompts readers to rethink contemporary Russian policies in light of historical precedents. Janice Stein, the jury chair and a professor at the University of Toronto, praised Radchenko's work as transformative and essential reading.

The Selection Process

Radchenko's work was chosen from a competitive field of nominations, which included notable titles such as 'Dollars and Dominion' by Mary Bridges, 'The Achilles Trap' by Steve Coll, and 'The Good Allies' by Tim Cook. The jury consisted of five distinguished members: Janice Gross Stein (Toronto), Francis J. Gavin (Washington), Iain Martin (London), John Bew (London), and Nina Srinivasan Rathbun (Toronto), each bringing a wealth of knowledge and diverse perspectives to the selection process.

The Impact of the Prize

Winning the Lionel Gelber Prize comes with a monetary award of CAD 50,000, underscoring the significance of scholarly contributions to the understanding of international relations. The Gelber Prize, established in 1989 by Canadian diplomat Lionel Gelber, highlights the importance of thoughtful discourse in global affairs and encourages the publication of insightful material on critical issues affecting the world.

About Sergey Radchenko

Sergey Radchenko serves as the Wilson E. Schmidt Distinguished Professor at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies in Europe, and he is also the Director of the Bologna Institute for Policy Research. With extensive expertise in Cold War history, Radchenko has published several works focusing on Soviet foreign policy, Soviet-Chinese relations, nuclear diplomacy, and various crises throughout the Cold War.

He is a prolific contributor to prominent publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Foreign Policy, making his insights widely accessible to the public.

Event Details

The 2025 Lionel Gelber Prize awards ceremony and lecture will take place in a hybrid format on April 9, 2025, at noon ET. Online registration will be available on the Lionel Gelber Prize website, allowing a global audience to engage with the discussions surrounding international affairs and the historical context provided by Radchenko's award-winning analysis.

For further details, high-resolution images of the author and book cover are available upon request. This event promises not only to celebrate a noteworthy achievement in literature but also to offer valuable insights into the legacies of the Cold War that continue to shape geopolitics today.