#Canada #Toronto #International Affairs #Lionel Gelber Prize

The 2025 Lionel Gelber Prize Shortlist Announced

On February 11, 2025, in Toronto, a distinguished international jury comprised of practitioners, journalists, and scholars announced the shortlist for the prestigious Lionel Gelber Prize for 2025. This marks the 35th edition of this esteemed accolade, which honors the best non-fiction book published in English that explores global affairs. The winner will receive a cash prize of 50,000 CAD.

Notable Nominations

The shortlist features five noteworthy titles:

1. Dollars and Dominion: US Bankers and the Making of a Superpower by Mary Bridges (Princeton University Press)
2. The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the C.I.A., and the Origins of the American Invasion of Iraq by Steve Coll (Penguin Random House)
3. The Good Allies: How Canada and the United States Defeated Fascism Together in World War II by Tim Cook (Penguin Random House Canada)
4. For the Success of Our Hopeless Cause: The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement by Benjamin Nathans (Princeton University Press)
5. To Run the World: The Kremlin's Cold War Bid for Global Power by Sergey Radchenko (Cambridge University Press)

Judith Gelber, chair of the Lionel Gelber Prize, commented on the selections: “The jury has chosen five extraordinary books that explore history in ways crucial for understanding contemporary geopolitics. These authors reveal new perspectives on the intersections of economics, foreign policy, and international collaboration.”

The Jury's Expertise

The 2025 Lionel Gelber Prize Jury consists of prominent academics and experts:

• - Prof. Janice Gross Stein (Chair, Toronto)
• - Prof. John Bew (London)
• - Prof. Francis J. Gavin (Washington)
• - Iain Martin (London)
• - Prof. Nina Srinivasan Rathbun (Toronto)

The winner will be announced on March 19, 2025. This winning author will participate in a hybrid event hosted by the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy on April 9, 2025.

About the Prize

Established in 1989 by Canadian diplomat Lionel Gelber, the Lionel Gelber Prize recognizes excellence in literature pertaining to international relations. Awarding a significant cash prize annually, it is administered by the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. To learn more about the Lionel Gelber Prize, visit their official website or follow them on social media.

Insight into the Shortlisted Works

*1. Mary Bridges’s Dollars and Dominion delves into the pivotal role US banks played in shaping both global capitalism and the US's imperial ambitions at the dawn of the 20th century, analyzing overseas lending practices and their impacts on international trade.

2. Steve Coll, a previous Lionel Gelber Prize winner, presents The Achilles Trap, dissecting the complex relationship between Saddam Hussein and the CIA, ultimately exploring the roots of the American intervention in Iraq.

3. Tim Cook's The Good Allies recounts Canada and the United States' collaboration during WWII, illuminating the efforts that led to the defeat of fascism.

4. Benjamin Nathans’s For the Success of Our Hopeless Cause traverses the intricacies of the Soviet dissident movement, examining its various lives and legacies.

5. Sergey Radchenko's To Run the World*** provides an in-depth look into the Kremlin's pursuit of global dominance during the Cold War.

This year's shortlist reflects a powerful collection of narratives that not only analyze past events but also provide critical insights pertinent to today's geopolitical landscape. The anticipation builds as the literary world awaits the announcement of the prize winner this March.